Dáil debates

Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Mental Health Services

6:25 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue and I will respond accordingly. I do not doubt their sincerity about the issue. I will respond to some of the figures they presented. As is widely acknowledged, there is currently an international shortage of consultants, especially for CAMHS. The Cork-Kerry CHO has established a CAMHS medical recruitment task force to review efforts to recruit and retain medical staff, led by the head of service for human resources. Every possible option is pursued in order to recruit consultant psychiatrists. That is accepted. Acknowledging the critical impact medical vacancies have on service provision, a dedicated medical manpower office has been appointed. Local management is working with 11 national and international agencies to source suitably qualified candidates. All options are being explored, including the provision of out of hours or weekend clinics by a consultant working elsewhere, along with the potential use of telemedicine solutions.

Some 2,453 children were on CAMHS waiting lists nationally at the end of September. Some 656 of these were in CHO 4. There has been a decrease nationally in children on the waiting list for longer than 12 months from 317 in August 2018 to 313 in September 2018. This decrease is reflected in CHO 4 with 174 children waiting in excess of 12 months in September, down from 183 in August. The recent budget saw the mental health allocation increase to nearly €1 billion, a clear indication of the importance placed by the Government on the mental health of the nation. This represents an increase of more than €245 million in the HSE's mental health budget since 2012. This has helped to fund a number of initiatives aimed at reducing demand on mental health services. It has also provided an extra 130 psychiatric nurse undergraduate places each year to come on-stream in 2020 and 2021. Some 40 postgraduate posts have been funded. Together with the recent appointment by the HSE of approximately 114 assistant psychologists and 20 psychologists into primary care, and ten advanced nurse practitioners directly into CAMHS, it is anticipated that these posts will help to reduce demand on CAMHS. The issues the Deputies raise are important and we have a problem with recruitment.

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