Laois mental health services in 'crisis' with staffing levels below 50 % in some areas

Mental health services in Laois and surrounding areas are in ‘crisis’ with fewer than half the necessary staff in some areas, a Laois TD has said. 

Laois/Offaly TD Brian Stanley is calling for immediate action on Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) services following the latest release of figures.

“The findings of the latest independent report on CAMHS services show that the figures for the Midlands are a damning indictment of Government failing children. CAHMS waiting lists have doubled since this Government was formed in 2020. These figures have increased by 112%,” said Dep Stanley. 

“The report commissioned by the Mental Health Commission (MHC) outlined that the State cannot provide assurances to parents that their children have access to safe, effective and evidence-based services. This in itself is a national scandal. Figures for Health Area CHO8 which takes in the midlands, highlight that these services are in crisis.’’

“The Midlands and CHO8 figures show staffing levels as of April this year at just 57% overall across the required disciplines in CAMHS. There are only 42% of the number of Occupational Therapists required, 49% of Social Workers, 33% of Psychologist and most damning of all just 21% of the required of Speech & Language therapists,” said Dep Stanley. 

Waiting times for children to receive a referral for ADHD is an average of nine months in the region, plus, a further four months wait to be assessed with many waiting much longer than this which is unacceptable,’’ he said. 

“The report also highlighted insufficient budgeting for CAMHS, with care teams and services being completely under-resourced. One of the main reasons for the Midlands / CHO 8 region having such poor services may be, that the budget for CAMHS in the region is the third lowest in the State,’’ he said. 

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“This latest report has 49 recommendations that the Minister for Health must accept and implement to reform CAMHS and improve service delivery. Government now needs to take control of the situation and take immediate action to fill staffing vacancies across CAMHS services in the Midlands,” Dep Stanley concluded.