Number of Midlands' Children on CAMHS waiting list is up 20%

Number of Midlands' children on CAMHS waiting list has risen by 20%.

The HSE have confirmed with Independent TD Carol Nolan that the Midlands now hold the second highest waiting list for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland.

This area currently has 764 children waiting to be seen by CAMHS, with 124 of these children on the waiting list for over a year. In contrast, the number of children on a waiting list in March of 2023 was 605.

The Midland's Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) is known as CHO Area 8, which encompasses Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

CHO Area 8 area has the second highest waiting list nationally with only CHO Area 4 (Cork, Kerry) having recorded more children (974) on its CAMHS waiting list. Nationally there was 3,819 children on the waiting list for community mental health services.

PICTURED- CAMHS waiting list data by area. 

Independent TD Carol Nolan expressed her concerns in a press release.

“I know that the staff in our mental health service providers are under extraordinary pressure, but so too are the parents and children who are absolutely desperate for even minimal levels of intervention and assessment that they are clearly not receiving,” said Deputy Nolan.

“I find it totally unacceptable that once again CHO area 8 is near the top of the list in terms of waiting times for essential services. It was confirmed to me only recently that CHO area 8 also has the highest number of people on its waiting lists for Speech and Language Therapy (3,962)," she said.

“When these numbers are combined then the level of service deficit becomes startling clear. Our children are being failed at a local and national level, with children in midland counties the worst affected in many cases.”

Independent TD Carol Nolan.

“Clearly something is deeply, deeply broken when CHO area 8 is recording almost 800 children waiting for CAMHS but in at least five other HSE areas that number is well below 300 children.”

“Why are our numbers so high? That is a question I am demanding answers to from the minister and indeed the HSE.”

“We cannot allow this breakdown in services to continue. It is potentially causing irreparable developmental delay in so many children and causing untold frustration among parents who only want the best for the kids,” Deputy Nolan concluded.