HSE’s failure to provide services for children with intellectual disabilities ‘totally unacceptable’
The Sligo ChampionThe continuing failure of the HSE to provide a CAMHS ID Service and to provide basic services for children with intellectual disabilities in Sligo-Leitrim is totally unacceptable, Cllr Declan Bree told members of the Regional Health Forum West, when he complained about what he described as “misinformation” being provided to the forum by the HSE Executive.
Cllr Bree hit out at what he described as a “consistent lack of co-operation” adding “the failure to provide basic services for children with intellectual disability in Sligo-Leitrim is totally unacceptable and can only be described as a terrible indictment on the management of the HSE.”
"In reply to a question I submitted at a meeting of this Health Forum in May I was told that a baseline CAMHS-ID team consists of a Consultant Psychiatrist, Senior Psychologist, clinical nurse specialists, and administrative support. "They offer: Assessment, formulation, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders." said Cllr Bree.
"I was told then, and I quote “All posts have been submitted for approval, to date no approval has been received.”
"At our last meeting in June I asked, “what specific CAMHS-ID multidisciplinary team posts in Sligo have been submitted for approval and on what date/s the posts were submitted for approval.”
"The reply I received was, and I quote “The positions for the CAMS ID Multidisciplinary Teams posts were all submitted in June 2025 through the HR approval process.”
"Today, I have submitted a further question: What specific CAMHS-ID multidisciplinary team posts in Sligo have been submitted for approval; (B) on what date in June of 2025 were the positions for the Multidisciplinary Team submitted for approval; (C) why was approval for the posts not sought before June 2025; (D) have the posts been approved to date, (D) and if not, when is it expected that the posts will be approved.
"And the reply I have received today states, “No specific Multidisciplinary posts have been submitted for approval as there is currently no means to submit for approval.”
"Today’s reply totally contradicts the replies we received in May and June. I find it outrageous that that the Forum can be treated in such a manner
"There is no apology for the misinformation provided at our meetings in May and June. "Chairman, it would now appear that that the members of this Health Forum cannot rely on any reply we receive from our senior officials.
"This is disgraceful and unacceptable. "I have to say I am getting extremely frustrated with the consistent lack of cooperation in regard to the establishment of a CAMHS-ID Team.
"At meeting after meeting over the past two years I have outlined the heartache and trauma parents and families have had to go through as a result of the failure of the HSE to provide a CAMHS ID service in Sligo and Leitrim.
"The continuing failure of the HSE to provide a CAMHS ID Service and to provide basic services for children with intellectual disability in Sligo-Leitrim is totally unacceptable and can only be described as a terrible indictment on the management of the HSE," said Cllr Bree.