No support staff for key CAMHS post in Sligo seen as reason why it hasn't been filled yet
'At meetings of this Forum over the past year and a half I have been highlighting the urgent need for the HSE to provide a CAMHS-ID Service in Sligo.
'While the service is provided by the HSE in other parts of the country there has been absolutely no service for children and adolescents in Sligo or Leitrim because, we were told there was no Consultant Psychiatrist to assist in providing the service.
'At every meeting of the Forum I outlined the heartache and trauma parents and families have had to go through as a result of the failure of the HSE to provide a CAMHS-ID service in Sligo.
'I was extremely pleased when we were informed last November that an Agency Consultant Psychiatrist for the CAMHS-ID Service had been appointed and had commenced work on the 19th of November.
'While welcoming that appointment I did ask if an adequate multidisciplinary support team had been put in place to ensure that the new service could properly respond to those who were referred to the service for specialist input.
'However, it was only at our meeting in February when it came to light that the Consultant Psychiatrist had resigned his post that we also learned that there was no multidisciplinary support team in place.
'CAMHS-ID teams consist of multidisciplinary team members such a Consultant Psychiatrist, Senior Psychologist, clinical nurse specialists, social workers and administrators. They offer: Assessment, formulation, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
'However, on the basis of the reply I have received today we now know that none of these posts have ever been approved. We are also told that another Consultant Psychiatrist who applied for the position in the Camhs-ID Team in January this year withdrew his name in April. And of course what else would you expect, it there is no support team in place?
'Can you imagine hospital management appointing consultants, without having a support team of nurses, registrars, junior doctors in place.
'Yet the management of the HSE in Sligo-Leitrim have gone through the motions of advertising for a Consultant Psychiatrist for a CAMHS-ID Service without a multidisciplinary support team being in place.
'Surely, all the vacant posts in the team, including the post of Consultant Psychiatrist should have been approved and advertised when we were told that the service would be established in Sligo and Leitrim.
'The continuing failure of the HSE to provide a CAMHS-ID Service and to provide basic services for children with intellectual disability in Sligo and Leitrim is unacceptable and can only be described as a terrible indictment on the Management of the HSE,' said Cllr Bree.
In response. Cllr Bree was informed the Integrated Health Area Manager for Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and West Cavan, J. Fitzmaurice that the national model for care for CAMHS-ID outlines the roles of MDT members trained in supporting children with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders.
The team includes a consultant psychiatrist, health and social are professionals, medical and nursing staff ad administrative support.
"While not all teams will start with full membership, the national CAMHS-ID programme aims to establish baseline teams in all areas including a consultant psychiatrist, senior psychologist, clinical nurse specialist and administrative support.
"In relation to the Consultant position the PAS advertisement closed on January 31st 2025 with one application received. The post progressed to shortlisting which took place in April 2025. The candidate withdrew from the post at the end of April. We are in the process of getting the post re-advertised,' he said.
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