Parents of Kids in need of CAMHS meet SF

The Parents of children in need of CAMHS services featured in The Sligo Champion this week and last met yesterday morning ( Monday) with local Sinn Féin TD, Martin Kenny and the party health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly TD in the Glasshouse Hotel.

Louise O’Reilly TD heard first hand the distress of the Sligo parents who find themselves without any professional help for their children who are either autistic, have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder ( ODD), suicidal or who have a range of learning disabilities.

Deputy Kenny said: “There is no child psychiatrist working in Sligo at the moment and many other professional services such as occupational and speech therapy are sadly lacking. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service is not capable of helping people who are in need of help, even the most basic diagnostic procedures are lacking.

“Many of the parents felt that if there had been earlier intervention, their children would be better able to function now, but that they had been left to their own devices. Many parents said that waiting lists for even a diagnosis are so long that their children are left without any professional help, even though their GP and their schools are referring them.”

“I am very glad that Louise O’Reilly, who is such a powerful advocate for clients of our very dysfunctional health service, has agreed to raise this matter with Minister Harris in the Dáil.”

“Last week I raised the issue in the Dáil, but am still awaiting a response from the Minister. Sinn Féin councillor, Thomas Healy, has been working hard on their behalf also and we promised that we would continue to demand a proper service for these parents and their children.” SEE PAGE 5