Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

For many years, the health services, particularly psychiatric services, have been struggling. Even before the pandemic, they were struggling. We were not recruiting staff although there was a commitment to do so. I have lost count over the years of the number of people who have been turned away from accident and emergency departments because of a dual diagnosis. In many cases, this resulted in fatalities.

The Minister of State referred to the specialist teams that have been set up, but this is all too slow. There is a pilot scheme in CHO 3 whereby specialist teams are brought in. I despair when I talk to people about some of the cases that have been raised with me in this regard. In each CHO area, we should have dedicated nurses trained in dual diagnosis. Also, psychiatrists in accident and emergency departments should be trained in dual diagnosis and have the ability to deal with it. We fought hard to get psychiatrists in accident and emergency departments — it took the Government a long time to concede on this — so it is not good enough that people are being turned away from accident and emergency departments.

I despair over recruitment in the mental health services. I have heard of people who interviewed successfully for jobs before Christmas but still have not got them. It is totally unacceptable that they are not being employed now.

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