Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
86. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, waiting list in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42302/20]
View answerHow many people are on CAMHS waiting lists in CHO 4? I ask the Minister of State to make a statement on the matter.
I thank the Deputy for his very important question. The development of all aspects of mental health services nationally, including those for children and young people, remains a priority for me and the Government. This is reflected in the current programme for Government and in the significant additional funding allocated to mental health in budget 2021. As the Deputy will know, an additional €50 million was secured, which will bring the overall budget to €1.076 billion. Of that €50 million, €23 million has been allocated to commence the implementation of many of the short-term recommendations of Sharing the Vision, including the expansion of CAMHS hubs. It is expected that 148 additional staff will be recruited in 2021 by the HSE, of whom 29 will be in CAMHS.
As the Deputy will be aware, CAMHS admissions are prioritised by clinical need. CHO 4 continues to take a proactive approach, with a focus on reducing CAMHS waiting times to improve access to a safe and effective service. In the past eight months, even with Covid, much progress has been made. The waiting list in the CHO 4 area, which covers counties Cork and Kerry, was 352 in October 2020, a reduction from 573 in October 2019. Of those, 78 had been waiting to access CAMHS services for longer than 12 months, a reduction of 49% since January 2020. In October 2020, 93% of all accepted referrals were offered a first appointment within 12 weeks and, of those referrals, 96% were seen within 12 weeks. I will address the issue further in subsequent replies.
It is vitally important that we get this sorted out and that we keep challenging the system in respect of CAMHS. All Members, as public representatives, meet families in distress and know challenges that exist and the difficulties accessing services. There is a growing acceptance that there is a mental health crisis on the back of Covid. In terms of the figures being provided to the Department by the HSE, does the Minister of State see a significant challenge, particularly in respect of CAMHS in CHO 4 and the rest of the country? Are there still vacancies within CHO 4 for psychiatrists and other trained staff to help to alleviate the crisis that exists in communities?
The Deputy has raised a valid point. Since I came into this role, I have had several discussions with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, regarding CAMHS waiting lists. There are currently more than 2,230 children waiting for such services. However, in the past seven months or eight months, CHO 4 has taken a proactive approach. Part of the waiting list, especially on the Kerry side, was associated with a key consultant vacancy. The CHO put in place a Saturday clinic facilitated by local CAMHS consultant cover to target the waiting list. Having spoken to the chief officer of CHO 4, which covers counties Cork and Kerry, in the past week, I can confirm it has secured a second consultant psychiatrist in CAMHS in Kerry on a temporary basis. The CAMHS teams in Cork and Kerry are both now fully populated in terms of psychiatrists and they are working at full tilt. We are working with them to reduce the waiting list as a matter of priority. From what I can see, CHO 4 has always been problematic in terms of it always having quite a high number on the CAMHS waiting list. I am adamant that I will have that waiting list reduced.
I admire the Minister of State for her determination and I thank her for her work to date. Is there a shortage of psychologists in CHO 4? Is there a challenge in recruiting psychologists there? On the issue of primary care, what is her view on how it is being rolled out to alleviate some of the stress within communities and address the enormous challenges coming down the line?
There are many challenges in primary care for under 18s. The waiting list is at all-time high of 10,500. It is an issue I have inherited. I met the Minister on this issue recently and I have met the HSE primary care team. The team and the section of the Department that deals with mental health are aware that more than 5,000 under-18s are currently on that waiting list for more than 12 months and we are looking at a targeted intervention to reduce the waiting list next year. A process is being put in place to see where we can get the capacity to so do. The Deputy is correct that there are psychologist vacancies. We are looking at a targeted approach. I will visit Cork in January or February, Covid permitting, to meet the teams there. Significant good work has been done, but we have to do more.
