Vol. 469 No. 1
181 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for psychological assessment in Harcourt Street Children's Hospital, Dublin 2; the number of psychologists at this hospital; if this number is adequate to meet the needs of the hospital; and the plans, if any, he has to provide an additional service at this hospital. [16168/96]
Limerick East): There is one clinical psychologist employed in the National Children's Hospital, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, and no request for approval has been received in my Department for any additional posts in this area. The hospital authorities have advised that in-patient referrals to the clinical psychology service are normally seen within four days of their referral and that the current waiting time for new out-patient referrals to the service is five months.
The Deputy may be aware that the National Children's Hospital, Harcourt Street, is scheduled to transfer its services to the new Tallaght Hospital in 1997. The transfer to Tallaght will give patients the full back up resources of a major general hospital. The level of services to be provided in Tallaght, including the clinical psychology service, is one of the many issues currently under consideration by the new Tallaght Hospital board.
