Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

78. To ask the Minister for Health when a psychiatrist will be made available on the HSE team in counties Louth and Meath for children with a dual diagnosis of autism and a moderate learning disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52629/22]

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Families of children with autism and moderate learning disabilities who are due diagnoses are in a crisis situation in counties Louth and Meath. I am aware of 15 families who have adolescent children with autism and moderate learning disabilities who urgently require a psychiatric review but have been told by the HSE that the service is not available as there is no psychiatrist on the HSE team. When will a psychiatrist be made available on the HSE team in counties Louth and Meath?

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The total allocation for mental health services in budget 2023 is more than €1.2 billion. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short-term and medium-term measures in our mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. We are enhancing mental health supports across a broad continuum. These range from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to acute and specialist service delivery. The mild mental health needs of adults and children with intellectual disabilities are generally best met in services such as HSE primary care or disability services. People may have moderate or severe mental health difficulties in addition to their intellectual disability, however, which can mean treatment needs are more complex.

On 9 September last, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, launched the new child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, intellectual disability model of service. This will ensure that children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities have equal access to mental health care. A child and adolescent mental health service and mental health intellectual disability consultant is being sought at present for Louth-Meath mental health services. The HSE has advised the Department that it has to date been unsuccessful in filling this position. The HSE is again proceeding with recruitment. No date has been identified so far for when the post will be filled.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A common threat for children with autism who are transitioning to adolescence is high anxiety levels and obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, behaviour. Many of those adolescents are non-verbal. They display their anxiety through OCD, self-injury behaviour, hitting themselves with force, property destruction, poor sleeping patterns and assaulting others. Many of these families live in constant fear of attack from their adolescent child. They live in houses that have been significantly damaged by their adolescent child.

In one situation, an adolescent child flooded the house by pulling the radiators off the wall, and architraves were pulled away from the doors. The same family has no doors on their bathrooms due to destruction. In addition, many of these adolescent children have younger siblings who are in danger of being hurt. This situation cannot continue.

People cannot get a psychiatric consultant in counties Louth and Meath. There must be something seriously wrong. It is not acceptable. These families need help. I ask the Minister of State to come to County Louth to talk with these families. They are in a terrible position at the moment. For me to ask the question on their behalf and get the answer that no-one is available makes no sense whatsoever.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to whom I will bring back the Deputy's views.

Seemingly, a CAMHS mental health intellectual disability consultant is being sought at present for Louth-Meath mental health services. The job was originally advertised for Louth-Meath and Cavan-Monaghan, with Cavan-Monaghan having governance. The post was interviewed for and offered to only one candidate who met the criteria. Unfortunately, the post was declined.

Louth-Meath mental health services were then advised to recruit a consultant separately for the area. We are proceeding with this recruitment campaign with the post going through recruitment at present. Unfortunately, however, there is no date as yet from when the post will be filled. I have heard the Deputy's concerns loud and clear and I will bring them back to the Minister of State as soon as possible.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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?

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Fitzpatrick. People with intellectual disabilities should have access to supports for mental health services in the same way as the general population around the country within a framework that is multidisciplinary and catchment area-based. Teams should have the appropriate training and expertise and should be suitably resourced.

As the Deputy will be aware, 3.8% of the population has intellectual disabilities and there is an increased prevalence of mental health problems. Up to 25% of those with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities and up to 50% of those with severe-to-profound intellectual disabilities experience mental health problems.

There is an issue with recruitment, in that the HSE has gone out to recruit but has not been successful. However, I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the Minister and try to get the position filled as quickly as possible.