Close to 1,000 children in the west of Ireland, needing mental health supports and services, are still waiting for an appointment.
The situation has been exacerbated by Covid related difficulties and recruitment issues, which have led to the HSE taking the dramatic step of pausing the service for certain areas including Galway city, Moycullen and Oughterard.
According to Fianna Fáil’s senator Ollie Crowe [pictured below], the backlog for the Child and Family Psychology Service in the Galway/Roscommon area is putting “unbearable” stress on families.
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“I am aware of cases where referrals were first made in early 2020 and now well over a year later, not alone have consultations not taken place, but families have not even received a date for these consultations, and there does not appear to be one in sight,” he said.
Sen Crowe has contacted the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to request that his Department “urgently takes steps” to address the issue.
“Families want to keep health information private, particularly that of children or teenagers,” he said, “so they feel they cannot open up about this. That causes people to be carrying a massive burden. There are many challenges right now but it is essential that the Government tackles this and does so with urgency.”
