There is a shortage of 830 beds for mental health services, according to an unpublished report by the HSE. 

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) obtained the report under the Freedom of Information Act. 

There were just over 1,100 acute psychiatric beds in the public health service during a review – roughly 24 beds per 100,000 people. 

In 2018, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care said there should be 50 acute psychiatric beds per 100,000 people by 2021. 

According to IHCA, there should have been 73 beds per 100,000 population by 2023 to match the European average. 

“Taking this latter target, the current shortfall is more than double the above HSE estimate at around 1,800 inpatient beds,” an IHCA statement said. 

It said the ‘true deficit’ of beds is likely ‘greater still’, given the HSE used population data from the 2016 Census in its report. 

Mental health 'deficit' in Ireland

The report shows the “scale and severity” of the deficit in mental health services, according to IHCA Vice President and Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist Professor Anne Doherty. 

“When I graduated from medical school in 2005, there were 4,000 acute mental health beds in Ireland,” she said. 

“That number has now decreased to around 1,100. 

“In real terms, what that means is that for every four patients we would have admitted to hospital in 2005, we would only admit one today.” 

She said the deficit in staffing and resources in hospitals has also made it more difficult to retain specialists. 

“We train enough doctors in the speciality every year, but the problem is, like with every other area of medicine in Ireland, psychiatrists are leaving for or remaining in other English-speaking countries, where they have enhanced working conditions,” she said. 

“Because of this, it’s very difficult for Irish doctors to decide to come home and, for example, make those very difficult choices of who gets that single psychiatric bed when you have four people who need it.” 

Increased funding

The IHCA is calling for the Government to double the portion of the Budget allocated to mental health. 

Some 5.6% of the budget is allocated to mental health, according to the IHCA, which remains below the 10% recommended by the Sláintecare report in 2017. 

The Department of Health said it is a "priority of Government to promote mental health and reduce the burden" of psychiatric illnesses "for all".

It said the total allocation for mental health services for 2024 is over €1.3 billion, not including costs covered by other health services or the cost of the Mental Health Commission.

According to the Department, the Capital Planning Group for Mental Health Services has been asked to consider the HSE report to ensure "the number of inpatient beds meets demand".