16 Dec 2020, 16:28
The Sub-Committee on Mental Health will hear from representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and the Psychiatric Nurses Association at a meeting in Leinster House tomorrow, Thursday, 17 December.
Peter Hughes, General Secretary, Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), Aisling Culhane, Research & Development Advisor, PNA; Dr. William Flannery, President, College of Psychiatrists of Ireland; Jeanine Webster, Member of the REFOCUS Committee, College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and Dr. Matthew Sadlier, Member of the Consultant Committee, Irish Medical Organisation are due to appear before the Committee.
The witnesses from the three organisations will appear remotely before the Committee of TDs and Senators in Committee Room 3 at 9am.
Speaking before the meeting, Committee Chairman, Senator Frances Black said: “There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in symptoms of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression as people struggle to cope with feelings of isolation, fear and uncertainty.
“The Committee has listened carefully over the last number of weeks to witnesses talking about accessing mental health care at primary level. The meeting is an opportunity to engage with representatives of mental health care professionals working on the frontline to discuss access to patient psychiatric care at acute and specialist level.”
Watch the Committee live.
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