PRINGLE CONDEMNS CUTS TO CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Thomas Pringle TD has today condemned cuts to children’s and adolescents’ mental health services following cuts to the provision of travelling to provide these services.

Speaking on the matter to the Taoiseach today at Leaders’ Questions, the Independent TD for Donegal South West stated: “Child and adolescent mental health services in the HSE West have been stopped travelling out to meet very vulnerable young people leaving those that depend on the support of the service at real risk if they cannot access the service”.

“The Taoiseach stated yesterday that €63m in savings will be made through more focused ‘cash management’ quoting travel as one of these savings, as if it affects no one.

Because of these cuts only two clinics in Donegal will now run, Donegal Town and Letterkenny, with Dungloe Killybegs Buncrana and Ballybofey clinics all cancelled. This leaves us with a situation where children and young people in dire need of these services are left without help because of this Government’s so-called ‘cash management’.

Hospitals are being instructed to make massive cuts between now and the end of the year, with Letterkenny General Hospital to cut €3.5m more between now and the end of the year just after the recent closure of the gynaecology ward there,” added Pringle.

“It is ironic that on the day the wording of the children’s rights referendum is being introduced we are seeing how this Government is targeting vulnerable children with cuts depriving them of the services they so badly need.

This is yet again another failure of this Government and their incompetent Minister for Health who instead of reforming the health sector is continuing with closures and cuts at the expense of the needy,” stated Pringle.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

•