Revealed: 90 Mayo children left waiting for mental health services

Ninety Mayo children are awaiting appointments to attend CAMHS, the HSE's community mental health services.

However, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne was told at today's meeting of the HSE West Health Forum that there is is no electronic patient administration system for CAMHS.

A spokesperson said the HSE does not currently hold details on average waiting times and individual discipline specific services such as psychiatry, psychology, dietetics and occupational therapy as this is not feasible within the current resource allocation.

CAMHS Community Mental Health Services are provided by Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) operating as multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) led by Consultant CAMHS Psychiatrists.

All referrals are triaged on receipt by the MDT and assigned to members of CMHT MDT.

Where necessary, waiting lists are maintained for access to CMHTs which is compiled on a monthly basis by each Multidisciplinary Team.

"The waiting list for new referrals into CAHMS continues. However, to increase due to a combination of unprecedented demand pressures and recruitment difficulties.

"I can assure you that we have an active waiting list management system, regularly reviewing the clinical priority of referrals."