Pandemics and war in Ukraine highlighted the lack of capacity of health facilities for hospitalization of children's psychiatric patients. The Ministry of Health addresses the situation, ordering the Minister of Health to reprofil beds for possible hospitalization of young patients. Currently we have 117 children's psychiatric beds available in Slovakia, but of them 40 beds are reserved for COVID-19 positive. This bed capacity is often not sufficient for pandemic-free periods - and facilities have long-term problems with hospitalization of acute paediatric patients. Pandemics and war in Ukraine made the situation even worse, so the Ministry responded to the current unfavourable situation. Since 13 April 2022, the order of the Minister of Health of the Slovak Republic delivered by seven medical institutions (in Pezinok, Bratislava, Nitra, Kremnica, Martin, Prešov and Košice) is valid, on the basis of which they reprofil the bed fund to ensure the necessary beds for children's patients.
Medical facilities allocate up to 20% of their capacity to the adult population, i.e. from the acute beds of psychiatric departments or clinics. Young patients aged between 16 and 18 years will be placed there if the capacity of the children's premises is not sufficient. A patient placed on a reprofiled bed will be examined by a child psychiatrist, diagnosed, and prepared an individual treatment plan and subsequently provided with healthcare in accordance with standard practice for the age group. Limited contact of paediatric patients with adult patients must be ensured by order of the Minister.
Mental health care is one of the priorities of the health department. The Ministry is currently working on projects aimed at increasing the number of beds, especially for children's patients, as well as creating a better environment for medical staff of such facilities.