Dr. Brendan O'Shea:

There are two parts to the answer. There is a part that relates to the HSE, that is, hospital-based services and allied counselling agencies that are put in place or maintained by the HSE. We do not feel qualified to give an opinion on that. There is a general practice part, which relates to the care and support that can be provided by general practitioners, GPs, and practice nurses. In key respects, the service is available and the practices are receptive. For the third time, I will say that all practices are stretched well beyond what is safe and acceptable in the generality of what they are trying to provide. That is a concern.

Another concern is that, because of the criminalisation of the process and even though the services may be available, there are barriers to vulnerable patients who have undergone a difficult, challenging experience easily accessing those services. The services may be there, but the isolating and traumatising effect of the experience can interfere with the ability of the person to engage with the service.