The Irish College of Psychiatrists has said that its members are referring some children and adolescents with serious mental health problems abroad for treatment because of a lack of inpatient beds available to treat them in Ireland.
A report by the college published today found that there are only 20 inpatient beds in Ireland for children who require treatment for serious depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Dr Brendan Doody said as a result of this, many of these children and adolescents are being admitted to paediatric or adult psychiatric wards and some are being sent abroad for treatment.
