The controversial placing of children in an adult psychiatric unit at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is continuing despite the practice being condemned by the Mental Health Commission. A mental health policy document, A Vision for Change published in January 2006, recommended children be admitted to age-appropriate inpatient facilities. Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr Susan Finnerty said admitting any child to an adult service should only occur in exceptional circumstances. “A contributory factor to the continued admission of children to adult units is a shortage of operational beds in dedicated child units,” she said. In 2017, the MHC said the continued admission of children and adolescents to adult mental health units remained a totally unacceptable but common feature of mental health care practise in Ireland.

Source: Irish Examiner April 13, 2019 06:00 UTC