Still not enough Northside Mental Health Services
Labour Party Senator Aodhán Ó Riordain has called for the HSE and Minister for Health to commit to provide more mental health services on the Northside following the attempts, revealed yesterday to withdraw and suspend community mental health services for Raheny, Donaghmede, Edenmore and Kilbarrack.
The HSE excuse and apology does not make clear what it is doing to provide extra services to meet demand, with a recruitment embargo currently in place.
A Northside GP posted the notice from the HSE on social media on Friday morning stating:
“I regret to inform you that due to the high referral numbers the service of primary care mental health has been suspended in Raheny/Donaghmede/Edenmore and Kilbarrack until later in the year”
Sen. Ó Ríordáin said:
“It is frankly unbelievable that less than a week after the Darkness Into Light walk, a vital Northside service would be suspended purely because it so badly needed.
“It’s clear from the rapid u-turn last night that there was political intervention to reverse this. It still doesn’t address the fact however that there are not enough services to meet demand. No extra facilities are being provided.
“Government need to clarify this situation urgently as to what they will do to meet demand. The ‘mistake’ has been blamed on demand for the early intervention service provided by a clinical nurse specialist in primary care who is funded by Dublin North Mental Health Service. The HSE apology does not explain what is being done to meet demand and releave the pressure on this specific service.
“There is a recruitment moratorium in place in the HSE so it would appear there will be no efforts to provide additional vital mental health supports in these Northside areas.”