Latest news with #psychologicalcare
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
HSE confirms child's ‘shocking' 13.5-year wait for psychological care
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed that a child has been on a waiting list for psychological care for 13.5 years. The health service said it remains 'committed to delivering efficient, high-quality services' to all patients and service users. Advertisement It comes after new figures on waiting lists were made public on Tuesday, exposing pressures on children's primary care occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and psychology. The Social Democrats party said the figures were 'shocking' and called on the Government to commit to a comprehensive recruitment drive to 'tackle the crisis in primary care services for young people'. Liam Quaide, the party's spokesman on mental health and disability, said the HSE figures released to him through a parliamentary question reveal the 'abject state' of such services across the country. The figures, seen by the PA news agency, list the longest wait for psychology for a young person as 706 weeks in Dublin North-West, the equivalent of 13.5 years. Advertisement In Galway, the longest wait is 500 weeks or more than 9.5 years. The longest wait for occupational therapy is 502 weeks in Dublin North, while in Meath the figure is 452 weeks. The longest wait for physiotherapy is 369 weeks in North Lee, Cork. For speech and language therapy, the longest wait is 313 weeks in Dublin North-West. Advertisement Mr Quaide also said the number of young people waiting for primary care psychology services in Cork/Kerry has risen from 5,000 to 6,500 in the past year. He was also critical of the initial approach taken by the HSE to provide data on children waiting more than one year, which obscured the extent of the delays experienced by some children. 'It's worth noting that I had considerable difficulty obtaining these figures from the HSE, who were originally only providing me with a category of '+52 weeks' for young people waiting anywhere between one and 13 years for an appointment. 'One of the main purposes of primary care is to intervene early before difficulties become entrenched and the young person might need either the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or a Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT). Advertisement 'Primary care services have been hamstrung by the HSE's current recruitment policy known as the 'Pay and Numbers Strategy', as well as the official recruitment embargo before that.' The figures also show that 8,829 children have been waiting for more than two years for psychology services. Mr Quaide said post-primary care child and adolescent services around the country are 'now in deep crisis', with waiting lists 'out of control and staff morale on the floor'. He said: 'They have also been placed under immense pressure by the Progressing Disabilities model of service, which saw the re-direction of thousands of young people from CDNTs into primary care. Advertisement 'At no stage has the HSE attempted to recruit sufficient staff in primary care services to address the additional level of need. 'This has left families languishing on one waiting list after another, passed around from service to service with little to no support.' Asked to verify the figures, the HSE confirmed the waiting list numbers were correct. In a statement, a spokeswoman said: 'The HSE recognises the need to address waiting lists, and this is reflected in our commitment to developing the provision of Community Services through the newly established Health Regions, in line with Slaintecare. 'This involves a significant restructuring in how services are delivered to ensure that integrated care is provided equitably and efficiently for those who need it.' It said referrals for therapy services grew by 7 per cent nationally last in 2023 and increased by a further 1 per cent in 2024. The increased referral rate is particularly notable in physiotherapy, psychology and audiology. The statement added: 'Children's services by their nature are more complex in presentation and require more attendance compared to services for adults. 'It should be noted that when children transfer from specialist disability services to primary care, waiting time is calculated from the date of the original referral.' Ireland HSE chief admits waiting lists for assessments for... Read More Each of the HSE Health Regions has its own budget and leadership team. The HSE said each region has responsibility for local decision-making and work towards Slaintecare objectives. It added that each region is focused on improving access to care in order to reduce waiting times for patients in the context of resources available.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Child waiting 13 years for psychological service, figures show
A child has been on a waiting list for psychological care for 13.5 years, according to new figures. The Social Democrats party is calling on the Government to commit to a comprehensive recruitment drive to 'tackle the crisis in primary care services for young people'. Advertisement Liam Quaide, the party's spokesman on mental health and disability, said HSE figures released to him through a parliamentary question reveal the 'abject state' of such services across the country. The figures, seen by the PA news agency, put the longest wait for psychology for a young person is recorded as 706 weeks in Dublin North-West, around 13.5 years. In Galway, the longest wait is 500 week, or more than 9.5 years. The longest wait for occupational therapy is 502 weeks in Dublin North, while in Meath the figure is 452 weeks. Advertisement The longest wait for physiotherapy is 369 weeks in North Lee, Cork. For speech and language therapy, the longest wait is 313 weeks in Dublin North-West. Mr Quaide also said the number of young people waiting for primary care psychology services in Cork/Kerry has risen from 5,000 to 6,500 in the past year. He was also critical of the initial approach taken by the HSE to provide data on children waiting more than one year, which obscured the extent of the delays experienced by some children. Advertisement 'It's worth noting that I had considerable difficulty obtaining these figures from the HSE, who were originally only providing me with a category of '+52 weeks' for young people waiting anywhere between one and 13 years for an appointment. 'One of the main purposes of primary care is to intervene early, before difficulties become entrenched and the young person might need either the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or a Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT). 'Primary care services have been hamstrung by the HSE's current recruitment policy known as the 'Pay and Numbers Strategy', as well as the official recruitment embargo before that. ' The figures also show that 8,829 children have been waiting for more than two years for psychology services. Advertisement Mr Quaide said postprimary care child and adolescent services around the country are 'now in deep crisis', with waiting lists 'out of control and staff morale on the floor'. He said: 'They have also been placed under immense pressure by the Progressing Disabilities model of service, which saw the re-direction of thousands of young people from CDNTs into primary care. Ireland Over 15,000 children overdue Assessment of Need co... Read More 'At no stage has the HSE attempted to recruit sufficient staff in primary care services to address the additional level of need. 'This has left families languishing on one waiting list after another, passed around from service to service with little to no support.' Advertisement The HSE has been contacted for comment.
NHK
15-05-2025
- Health
- NHK
Thailand, Japan discuss post-disaster mental health care
Japan shared insights at a meeting in Thailand on the importance of mental health care after a disaster. The event followed the collapse of a high-rise building under construction in the Thai capital after a major earthquake struck the region in March. Eighty-nine people were killed, 9 were injured, and 7 went missing at the construction site in Bangkok, following the temblor in central Myanmar. More than 30 people took part in the event. A Japanese expert spoke with Thai hospital officials and health authorities providing care for disaster victims and bereaved families. Kato Hiroshi is the director of the Hyogo Institute for Traumatic Stress. He has been providing psychological care to people affected by the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Kato said some survivors hesitate to speak of their psychological pain when others around them died in the disaster. He also said mental care might be overlooked for first responders, such as firefighters and police. Thai health official Pongsakorn Lengdee agreed with the need for improving such support for rescue workers. "I think we will talk with our colleagues to how to improve and how to create a program to make everyone concerned about their health, their mental health," Pongsakorn said.
