Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has called the vacancies in Clondalkin Community Mental Health Services a crisis.
Deputy Ward was speaking following receiving a parliamentary response which highlighted that there are 17 vacancies in Clondalkin Mental Health Service.
Teachta Ward said:
“Our community mental health teams are unacceptably understaffed. This is a crisis.
“I received a parliamentary response back this week that highlighted the total vacancies in the community mental health services at Steeple House in my own area of Clondalkin.
“When your community mental health teams are not fully staffed, people in crisis have nowhere to turn other than the emergency department and this is not an appropriate place for someone with mental health difficulties.
“I raised this on the floor of the Dáil and Minister Butler did not give a satisfactory answer.
“I have since followed up with a further parliamentary question to identify how many posts have actually been filled and what efforts are being made to address the high level of vacancies.
“There are 17 vacancies in Clondalkin Mental Health including an Area Director of Nursing, Clinical Nurse Managers, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Community Mental Health Nurses, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Staff Nurses.
“The crisis of vacancies in our community mental health teams must be addressed.
“The HSE recruitment embargo will only make matters worse.
“The people of Clondalkin and the surrounding areas deserve a fully staffed community mental health team.”
Ends
Attached PQ response on Vacancies in Steeple House Clondalkin
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West 