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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

CAMHS staffing in Wexford

Summary

Deputy Murphy describes understaffing and poor handover in CAMHS services in Wexford, alongside a worrying case involving a child with anorexia. The Minister of State says operational staffing matters are for the HSE and asks for the case details so she can look into it.

My question, which is for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, relates to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. In both north Wexford and south Wexford, we do not have a full complement of staff in CAMHS. In recent weeks, as I have raised in the House before, the clinical nurse specialist, who has 13 years' service, moved to the Wexford north service. There was no proper handover and no transfer of his computer or any of the other things he requires. I had a very distressing telephone call this morning from the mother of a patient with anorexia who cannot be seen because of there being no handover, which meant the clinical nurse specialist has no files. A total of 400 patients in north Wexford CAMHS were placed with one clinical specialist while two acting clinical nurse specialists were sent to south Wexford CAMHS, where there are 170 patients. If this is the extent of the planning in CAMHS and the HSE, it is no wonder there is a recruitment and retention problem. Can the Minister of State tell me when this patient with anorexia will be seen?

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Mary Butler Minister of State at the Department of Health Fianna Fáil

I am familiar with the Deputy's question as she raised it with me as a Topical Issue matter two weeks ago tomorrow. As I said to her then, the HSE manages operational issues. It is not unusual for staff in multidisciplinary teams to be moved into different areas, whether it is from Cork south Lee to Cork north Lee, or from south Wexford to north Wexford. I am not able to comment on the young girl in question but if the Deputy would send me on the details, I will look at them.

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