Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Special Committee on Covid-19 Response
Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (Resumed)
Dr. Brendan Doody:
The figures for the community setting up to May show a 29.8% decrease in referrals received and a 21% decrease in the numbers of new cases seen. Effectively, the numbers of referrals are dropping but cases with more severe or acute need are still being referred. Although the number of referrals dropped, referrals continued and young people continued to be seen, even during the early phase of Covid-19. However, it was young people with a more severe presentation who were being referred and seen.