Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have raised this issue with the Minister of State before. One of the key messages of A Vision for Change was the need to reduce reliance on acute in-patient beds in cases of mental illness by strengthening early interventions by community mental health teams. Last autumn, In reply to my question, the Minister of State said the delivery of mental health services had been transformed. However, the people on the ground in Wexford strongly disagree with that. The community health teams do very good work but are only open until 5 p.m. To access these services, people need a referral from a GP, otherwise they go to Wexford A&E, from where they can be sent to Waterford A&E, all the while in mental crisis. According to the people on the ground, until things are better in the community services area we need a 24-hour acute service in Wexford.

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