Concern over mental health waiting list

A NORTHSIDE TD is calling on the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure that timely support is available to vulnerable young people when and as it is needed. 

The HSE confirmed to Northside People that in the north city and north county area, there are currently 32 people under 18 waiting 3-6 months for a Child and Mental Health Service (CAMHS) appointment; 30 people are waiting 6-12 months; and 16 people are waiting more than 12 months. 

Dublin Bay North TD Tommy Broughan (Ind), who requested the figures, described the levels waiting on appointments as “unacceptable”.

The HSE said a significant contributing factor to the existing CAMHS waiting list is balancing those attending routine referrals, while also dealing with high volumes of emergency and urgent referrals at the same time.   

“The referrals, classed as emergency and urgent, involve concerns such as depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation and eating difficulties,” a HSE spokeswoman said. “Therefore, teams must make a clinical decision to prioritise these referrals above those designated as routine due to the level of potential risk reported.”

“These significant clinical inputs can reduce the pace of throughput and capacity of the team to open new cases for assessment and intervention. 

“In addition, other factors such as a high level of 0-18-year-old population bases within catchment areas, the challenges presented by the level of vacancies and the difficulty in recruiting, creates difficulties in relation to throughput.” 

The spokeswoman said seven new service development posts for CAMHS have been approved through the Programme for Government for 2016.  

“These additional posts are now at an advanced stage of filling with National Recruitment Services,” she said.  

“There will be further implementation and provision of Service Development Posts as part of the 2017 Service plan.”

The spokeswoman added: “The CAMHS Waiting List Initiative is focusing on ensuring that no one is waiting over 12 months, with the ongoing oversight of the waiting list for CAMHS Service in Dublin North City & County remaining a key priority for mental health management.”

Deputy Broughan said he was dismayed when he received the figures.

“I acknowledge that emergency and urgent cases are dealt with as priorities and welcome this but it is important to also recognise that more than six months is far too long for a young person in distress to be waiting for an appointment with CAMHS,” he said.   

“At the moment 46 young people have been waiting for more than six months and a further 32 waiting for over three months.

“I welcome news that seven new service development posts, which were approved in the Programme for Government, are at an advanced stage of filling and I hope that these posts will be fully operational in the near future.”  

Deputy Broughan added: “I also welcome the CAMHS Waiting List Initiative to ensure that no person is waiting for more than 12 months.”