The Crisis in Children’s Psychological Care Services
A child has been waiting for psychological care for over 13.5 years, according to recent data that highlights the severe challenges facing children’s mental health services in the country. This alarming figure has sparked widespread concern and calls for urgent action from political parties and advocacy groups.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed the figures and stated its commitment to delivering efficient, high-quality services to all patients. However, the data reveals a troubling situation, with long waiting times across several key areas of primary care, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and psychology.
Long Waiting Times Across the Country
Newly released statistics show that the longest wait for psychological care is 706 weeks in Dublin North-West, equivalent to 13.5 years. In Galway, the maximum wait is 500 weeks, or over 9.5 years. Other regions also report significant delays: 502 weeks for occupational therapy in Dublin North, 452 weeks in Meath, 369 weeks for physiotherapy in North Lee, Cork, and 313 weeks for speech and language therapy in Dublin North-West.
These numbers have raised serious concerns about the state of primary care services for children. Liam Quaide, Social Democrats’ spokesperson on mental health and disability, described the situation as “shocking” and called for a comprehensive recruitment drive to address the crisis.
Rising Demand and Systemic Challenges
Quaide highlighted that the number of young people waiting for primary care psychology services in Cork/Kerry has increased from 5,000 to 6,500 in just one year. He also criticized the HSE’s initial approach to providing data, which obscured the true extent of delays by grouping all waits over 52 weeks into a single category.
He pointed out that early intervention is crucial in preventing more severe issues later on. Primary care services are meant to support children before they require more specialized care, such as through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT).
However, these services have been hindered by the HSE’s recruitment policies, including the “Pay and Numbers Strategy” and previous recruitment embargoes. According to Quaide, the HSE has failed to recruit enough staff to meet the growing demand, leaving families in limbo as they move between different services without adequate support.
Impact on Families and Staff
The crisis has had a profound impact on both families and healthcare professionals. Quaide said that post-primary care child and adolescent services are “now in deep crisis,” with waiting lists “out of control” and staff morale at rock bottom. He attributed this to the Progressing Disabilities model, which redirected thousands of young people from CDNTs into primary care without sufficient staffing to manage the increased workload.
The HSE has acknowledged the issue and stated that it is working to improve access to care through the newly established Health Regions. These regions are responsible for local decision-making and implementing Slaintecare objectives, which aim to provide integrated, equitable, and efficient care.
Increasing Referral Rates and Complex Needs
The HSE reported that referrals for therapy services increased by 7% nationally in 2023 and by an additional 1% in 2024. This rise is particularly notable in psychology, physiotherapy, and audiology. The HSE noted that children’s services are inherently more complex, requiring more frequent attendance compared to adult services.
It also explained that when children transfer from specialist disability services to primary care, their waiting time is calculated from the date of the original referral. Each HSE Health Region has its own budget and leadership team, with a focus on improving access to care within available resources.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains dire, with many families still struggling to get timely support for their children. The call for immediate action continues to grow, as the scale of the problem becomes increasingly clear.
