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Kerry CAMHS Crisis: No Full-Time Child Psychiatrist
19 Feb
Summary
- No full-time consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in Co Kerry.
- Reviews found potential for harm in over half of child cases.
- Resources significantly below national recommendations for CAMHS teams.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Co Kerry are facing a severe staffing crisis, with no full-time consultant psychiatrist currently employed. Recent reviews of services in both North and South Kerry revealed significant issues, including unreliable diagnoses, inappropriate prescriptions, and poor treatment monitoring.
The North Kerry review, published this week, found a risk of potential harm in 55.8% of files investigated. Resources for the CAMHS team are also critically low, falling far short of national policy recommendations. Co Kerry ideally requires a minimum of four full CAMHS teams, each with a dedicated consultant psychiatrist and multidisciplinary support.
Dr. Amanda Burke, HSE's clinical lead for youth mental health, acknowledged the recruitment and retention challenges, noting that while multiple consultants contribute, none are full-time. The HSE plans to address these workforce issues with consistent funding and a clear recruitment strategy.
Concerns within the North Kerry review included a high rate of psychotropic medication prescriptions, inadequate physical health assessments, and limited access to psychotherapy. Minister of State Mary Butler is scheduled to meet with affected families this week.
