Confusion as parents of distressed children told not to attend A&Es
WHILE the Covid-19 crisis has created an air of uncertainty at most things, parents of children or young adults who are in distress have seemingly been left with nowhere to bring their children should they self harm or state the intention to take their own life. While access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) was already limited and proving difficult for young people and parents, they’ve now been left feeling that they have nowhere to turn.
One parent outlined how they had put a call into Slaney House (which is still the location for CAMHS in Wexford as we await the move to Arden House in the Whitemill Industrial Estate) and were told that as a result of the outbreak of the virus, the were only willing to talk over the phone and only if the child was already a patient of Slaney House, something, the parent says, is completely understandable.
The parent was then told that if this wouldn’t do, they’d have to contact their GP or CareDoc. Having taken this step, they were advised to bring the child to hospital. Having phoned ahead to Wexford General, they were told to bring the child straight to the Department of Psychiatry at University Hospital Waterford. However, upon calling UHW, the parent was told that they are virtually in lock-down and that Wexford General had a duty of care to see the child.
‘The HSE has to clarify where to bring your children or loved ones that are suffering from a mental illness,’ the concerned parent says. ‘At the moment, nobody seems to know.’
Consultant Paediatric Psychiatrist, Dr Kieran Moore, who infamously resigned from his position in Wexford due to the horrendous working conditions and pressure that was being placed on the CAMHS sector, has called for urgent action on the subject.
‘Patients who normally attend CAMHS cannot go to A&E as is current HSE practice for psychiatric emergencies,’ he said. ‘Risk to patients and staff from Covid-19 in hospitals is higher. For this reason, the HSE must set up an emergency service in the community. It’s urgent.’
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil spokesperson for mental health Deputy James Browne says he has also raised the issue and will seek a resolution to the situation as a matter of urgency.
‘I’ve called for this action to be taken last week,’ he said. ‘I put detailed proposals drafted by psychiatric experts to Simon Harris. The HSE are supposed to be reviewing them at the moment. I’ll continue to pursue this.’