Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In addition to no psychiatrists being available, the only pediatrician available in Louth-Meath is Dr. Maeve McCormack, who will only see children who are aged 16 years or younger. There is a four to five-month waiting list to see Dr. McCormack. CAMHS will not see teenagers who are due a diagnosis and those adolescent children cannot be seen by mental health teams until they are 18 years of age. I am sure this is not only happening in counties Louth and Meath. These families are crying out for help. Apart from the patients themselves, this also affects the families and siblings. This situation should not be happening with the amount of money that is being spent on our heath budget, especially next year with €23 billion.

I cannot understand the situation at the moment. How did we let ourselves get into this situation with no psychiatrists and no pediatricians? Is there a problem with County Louth? I have met with representatives from the HSE on numerous occasions and, in fairness, they are doing an absolutely fantastic job in Louth County Hospital. These families and children need help, however. This should be a priority. I will ask the Minister of State once more. Will he or someone from his office please come and meet some of these families to realise first-hand the problems they are having?

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