The report by the Mental Health Commission highlights the fact that emergency departments cannot meet the demand for mental health services. This is an issue that our members working in emergency departments across the country regularly raise.
The INMO has consistently raised this issue of inappropriate admission of patients with acute mental health issues at the Emergency Department Taskforce.
The INMO’s TrolleyWatch exposes the true level of overcrowding in our emergency departments each day, it is obvious that overcrowded and understaffed emergency departments are not appropriate places of care for patients with acute mental health issues.
We know there have been many incidents of children under the age of sixteen with acute mental health issues being admitted to emergency departments. It is not right or appropriate for children who are in mental health distress to be spending up to a week in emergency departments. This is a matter which must be addressed urgently.
The report by the Mental Health Commission is one that should be welcomed, and its recommendations should be strongly considered by all HSE regional health authorities.