Regional Health Forum hears of Sligo’s need for a Camhs intellectual disability team

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

At the recent meeting of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum, Sligo Councillor Declan Bree has once again raised the issue of a full multidisciplinary Camhs Intellectual Disability team for Sligo and Leitrim.

Addressing the Forum, Cllr Bree said, “At our last meeting I pointed out that a Camhs-ID Service has been provided by the HSE for families in the rest of the country, but families in Sligo and Leitrim have not had access to such a service and have in effect been discriminated against and treated as second class citizens by the HSE.

“At that meeting it was confirmed by officials that a Consultant Psychiatrist, assisted by a clinical nurse were in the process of commencing work in a new Camhs-ID Team in Sligo. And we were advised that the service will only be implemented on a phased basis, providing limited intervention, in the absence of a full Multidisciplinary Team.

“I have asked today what posts have yet to be filled on the Camhs-ID multidisciplinary team and what steps have been taken to fill those posts and have the vacancies been advertised.”

Cllr Bree continued, “In response we are told that approval has now been received for a 0.5 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) Senior Clinical Psychologist and a 0.5 WTE Senior Social Worker. However we are not told what additional posts have yet to be filled and we have no indication as to when the vacant posts will be advertised.”

While he welcomed the news of two part-time positions Cllr Bree stressed the need for a full multi-disciplinary team.

“I welcome the fact that a part time Senior Clinical Psychologist and a part time Senior Social Worker will be joining the Consultant Psychiatrist and the clinical nurse. However at this stage we need to see the HSE providing a full multi-disciplinary team for Sligo and Leitrim.

“The national Camhs-ID programme indicates that multidisciplinary teams should include a Consultant Psychiatrist, a Senior Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, a Clinical Nurse Specialist, a Social Worker in addition to administrative support.

“So it is very clear that without a full team the service in Sligo and in Leitrim will not be able to provide anything like the Camhs- ID service available in other parts of the country.

“I note also that officials are unable to provide me with details as to the number of children referred to the Camhs-ID Service and who are currently on waiting lists for appointments and assessments or what the expected waiting time will be for appointments and assessment.

“I acknowledge the information we have received that the service will be implemented on a phased basis with the aim of providing intervention, reflective of the current team composition to meet the most urgent need.

“Needless to say I will be seeking a further update at our next meeting, particularly with regard to the filling of vacant positions on the multidisciplinary team and with regard to the number of children who are currently on the waiting list for appointments and assessment,” Cllr Bree said.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.