Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree wholeheartedly that psychologists should be attached to general practitioners. It would be a good idea to have one psychologist shared among three or four practices. Sometimes there is an overemphasis on the bricks and mortar of primary care centres rather than on the activity within those centres, and this needs to be addressed.

I call on the Minister to facilitate a rapid access 24-hour CAMHS referral service for general practitioners. We heard stories from parents last week and the common theme was that every parent ended up in an emergency department with their child. That is improper. A 24-hour rapid access referral service to a CAMHS team would prevent children attending emergency departments unnecessarily. It would not be abused.