The mother of a seven-year-old boy who has been waiting more than three years to see a psychologist has said her family has been through ‘hell’.
Sarah Nolan has been locked in a battle with the HSE to get care for her son Seán. Seán has dyspraxia and an autism spectrum disorder. He also has suspected attention deficit disorder but has not yet been formally diagnosed with the condition due to the family being unable to see a psychologist.
Seán’s case was brought up in the Dáil this week by Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward, who said he contacted the HSE last year to raise the child’s case. It took the HSE nine months to respond to the Dublin TD. The health service said that there was no appointment for Seán coming in the near future.
In the Dáil, Mr Ward said: ‘He was referred to mental health services [years ago]. I received a response today stating that there is still no appointment in sight for Seán. This Government are not giving children like Seán every chance to reach their full potential.’
Sarah said she had to bring the HSE to court several times so that Seán would be given an assessment of needs (AON). An AON is carried out by the HSE for children or young people with a disability. It identifies what health services are required for the child’s care.
Once the AON was completed, Seán was given an occupational therapist as well as access to a dietician. However, his hyperactivity and its associated problems has gone untreated, despite Ms Nolan’s efforts.
Sarah described how battling for her son’s care has resulted in her being diagnosed with depression and placed on medication. She said: ‘All I want is to help my son help himself. I have been in constant contact with the HSE and I’ve been getting nowhere.
‘It’s honestly hell. You always want to do right by your kids and I’ve brought the HSE to court to get him some of what he needs. But it’s the psychologist that is needed. It’s been over three years and it’s having an effect on us as a family as well. I had postpartum depression after I gave birth to Seán but I managed it without medication.
‘Now, I’ve been put on medication over the last few weeks because of the stress of this. I’m doing this for my son and for people like him who need help. All I want is to get him some help. I don’t want him to be a zombie or anything but I just want him to have some structure. He would be screaming down the house all night and that’s with his older sister next door to him. We’re not sleeping. That has such a bad effect on us all.’
Given her interactions with the HSE, Sarah questioned if the health service actually wants to help her son. ‘I’ve had to go through the courts to get them to assess him. That tells you there. I honestly don’t think they care. What else can you think when you’ve to do what I’ve had to do?’
There are more than 18,000 children who are currently waiting for psychological supports from the HSE. Mr Ward has repeatedly brought up the plight of long waiting lists, for people trying to access psychological support. A lack of trained staff is one of the primary reasons often cited by the HSE and the Department of Health for the delays. Latest stats showed how there were nearly 4,000 young people currently waiting for appointments with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Mr Ward stressed that the earlier people are treated for their problems, the less likely they’ll need as much support in the future. ‘If young people get the care they need at primary-care level, then they are less likely to need the more acute services of CAMHS.
‘These figures come on top of youth mental health services Jigsaw announcing redundancies due to a shortfall in funding. ‘Young people are let down at every stage of mental health care and are left behind by government.
‘Behind every waiting list figure is a young person with hopes and dreams. These children are denied their right to reach their full potential. Sinn Féin has proposed universal counselling in primary care on GP referral. We have also proposed the funding of a National Psychology Placement Office and to fund trainee counselling and education psychologists in line with trainee psychiatrists.’
The HSE and the Department of Health was contacted for comment.
