Dr. Aoife O'Donohue:

A person does not need to have an assessment of need in order to access primary care services, CAMHS or CDNTs. That is why the single point of access will be really clear for anyone referring in, be that the GP, the school or the parent. If they identify a need for a child, there will be one single point of access to those referral pathways. If a child in a CDNT could benefit from the input of CAMHS, this will now be done internally. It will be a much smoother process and a more timely intervention. The other thing within the CDNTs is that with the workforce being recruited inwards, our delivery of service has increased significantly. Although the assessment of need has a key role regarding the required assessment, what is key to many families we speak to is the intervention they require.