Call for fast-track system for young people with mental health issues

A FAST-TRACK system for patients between the ages of 16 and 18 who present at Tallaght University Hospital with mental health issues should be implemented, according to a councillor.

Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor raised the topic of emergency department presentations by 16 to 18 years old with psychiatric illnesses at a Regional Health Forum meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr O’Connor stated that he’d been made aware of young people within that age bracket who had presented to Tallaght University Hospital’s emergency department, and spent days waiting.

Speaking to The Echo shortly after the meeting, Cllr O’Connor said he believed a fast-track system should be used to assess the aforementioned patients.

“This is something I’ve been concerned about for a while,” he explained.

“People who have mental health issues, it’s unfortunate that they have to wait around and the reports I’ve gotten is that they can be there for quite some time.

“Everyone that goes into A&E is important, and people should be looked after as quickly as possible, but people who have particular issues with their mental health, it adds to the challenge if they’re left waiting around.

“We need to be dealing with this issue quite seriously.”

In response to Cllr O’Connor’s question, a HSE spokeswoman said that young people between the ages of 16 and 18 who present to the emergency department are treated as adults.

“They are reviewed by the emergency medicine team and referred if appropriate for review by the liaison psychiatry service in working hours and the on-call service out of hours,” she stated.

“This is provided by the adult mental health service. The Linn Dara CAMHS mental health service provides advice and support to the adult mental health service as required.

“Referrals for inpatient admission are assessed by the CAMHS inpatient service and if admission is clinically indicated will be provided by the Linn Dara Inpatient service at Cherry Orchard Hospital campus.

“Each of the four HSE/HSE-funded inpatient services serve a designated catchment area.

“However, each service admits from outside its catchment area if necessary.

“If there is not an inpatient bed available, and inpatient admission is indicated, then referral to the other CAMHS inpatient services nationally will be made.”

In respect of presentations to Tallaght University Hospital specifically, the spokeswoman said: “Young people with complex needs requiring emergency placement can on occasion present to the ED in crisis and as a ‘place of safety’.

“Assessing their needs and sourcing appropriate placements/supports is usually a multi-agency task and this may take more time.

“Multi-agency case conferences may be convened on a case-by-case basis.

“This group of young people do not necessarily require admission to an inpatient mental health service.”

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