Parents had 'lost all hope' until their child was admitted to adolescent psychiatric unit, report shows

An 11-bed ward at Linn Dara psychiatric unit in Cherry Orchard Hospital closed in May 2022 but has yet to reopen.

Parents told inspectors they had “lost all hope” for their child until they were admitted to an inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit.

They said they now had “some hope” as their child’s admission to the Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) in west Dublin had made “such a difference”.

The comments are in an inspection report by the Mental Health Commission of the facility in Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot.

Linn Dara has a capacity for 24 children, but one of the wards, with 11 beds, was shut in May 2022 because of staff shortages.

It was due to reopen in four months, but remained closed, though the Government says it will reopen if staff can be recruited.

When the inspection team carried out an unannounced visit over four days last September, there were 10 residents. The report said no one had been admitted for more than six months.

The report said the “dedication and commitment” of staff was evident and translated into quality care.

The facility cares for children with severe psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders, schizophrenia and depression.

The report said the inspection team spoke with two young people and four parents and three children filled out a questionnaire.

It said the two young people “sometimes perceived that nurses were not attentive” to their needs at mealtimes, and that “some nurses’ communication styles were abrupt and not adequately caring”.

The report said two of the parents spoke in “extremely positive terms” about the experiences of their children in Linn Dara.

“One said: ‘The admission of my child to Linn Dara has made such a difference to our family'," it said. "'Finally, there is some hope; we had lost all hope'.” 

Another parent described the nurses as “warm”. Both parents were "at pains" to say staff were responsive and praised communication.

Two other parents felt communication could be improved. One said more transparency around the reasons for specific clinical decisions by the treating team relating to their child would be very helpful.

Of the three young people who filled out the questionnaire, one said staff come across as “unbothered and use hand gestures such as pointing, clicking fingers to redirect us, which was rude and unhelpful”.

Giving marks out of 10 for their overall experience, one gave five out of 10, a second gave one out of ten and the third gave 10 out of 10.

Linn Dara scored 79% compliance rate with regulations.