POLITICIANS COME OUT IN FORCE FOR PROTEST MARCH AT HSE OFFICES
FAMILIES STEP UP CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER HSE SERVICES
“THE focus of our protest is to try to keep pushing the HSE to provide better services,” so says Shelly Fletcher, one of the many mothers who took part in a march last Friday.
A number of local politicians joined the families for the public demonstration outside the HSE buildings at Markievicz House in Sligo at 1130am. Local representatives, including TD’s Marc MacSharry, Eamon Scanlon and Martin Kenny pledged their continuing support to the ‘ Our voice for their future’ campaign.
The campaign was set up in response to the inadequate services in the North West for those with mental health difficulties. In particular the group want to see a major improvement within the HSE’s Child and Mental Health Services ( CAMHS).
As Shelly Fletcher stresses: “We want to see a full time psychiatrist attached to CAMHS. We want to see a massive reduction in the waiting lists for this service and for autism services. There should not be any waiting lists for these kids. They need intervention now. And we want to see proper respite facilities for both adults and children.”
The families say they are delighted with the local support. There was a good turn out of politicians and many of those who could not make it sent their apologies.
“We want to show everyone that we have the support of our councillors and TD’s. They are working away tirelessly in the background for us, raising the issue in the Dail and in parliamentary questions. We are very grateful to them,” says Shelly.
The group ‘ Our voice for their future’ has also secured a meeting with the Health Minister Simon Harris TD but an exact date has yet to be decided.
Shelly says: “The HSE is taking what we are saying on board but no real changes have been made yet. We need to keep fighting until we see real progress. Until such time as we see real change we are simply not going away.”
Eamon Scanlon TD said he will keep up the fight for services in Sligo.
“To think that last weekend three families had to travel 320km round trip for respite. It’s outrageous, it’s disgraceful. The people need it and deserve it, I’ll do everything I can to make sure they get it.”
Marc MacSharry TD told the large gathering that there should be an investigation into why staff do not stay in the mental health services in the North West: “Mental health is the poor relation of the country and we’re the best example here with the number of staff which has been left un- replaced in this area, and you and your families waiting to be seen.
“Every year, the Government, of whatever colour, raid the mental health budget. It’s the first budget raided within the HSE every time. It’s the most vulnerable in society being affected. When we have these people, why are they not staying? Is there something wrong with the working conditions? Are there personality issues? That in itself needs an investigation. This will not be political.”
John Doyle, a concerned parent, told the crowd: ” The only respite available to us is two and a half hours away in Carrickmacross. That’s not what we want or what we need.
“All we want is respite that we had, a very good service, that our children loved going to, that we knew they were safe going to. I would not be relaxed sending my son on a two and a half hour bus journey. The HSE has asked us to trust them. Personally, I’m not that trusting when people don’t want to be that upfront with you.”
Martin Kenny TD says everything possible must be done to protect the future of healthcare for generations to come: “This entire area has suffered more than anywhere else in the country due to cutbacks and deficiency in staff. The problem will only really be addressed with additional staff.
“Our children matter. Every family that’s here today, they’re only the start up, somewhere down the line, will have somebody who will need this. This is for the future, for those who have not yet been born.”