Four children have so far been sent elsewhere since Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick closed its Psychiatric unit Credit:123rf.com

The Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, has closed its psychiatric ward as the number of children seeking treatment for serious mental illnesses continues to rise.

The dedicated psychiatric unit stopped admitting children and young adolescents on January 25 after the latest consultant psychiatrist resigned, Fairfax Media has learnt.

So far four children have been affected, but more families are expected to be sent elswhere for inpatient treatment. The earliest the ward is expected to reopen is mid-March.

Child and adolescent psychiatrists are appalled by the closure and warned of the potential harm it could have on acutely unwell children.