The lack of a recruitment drive to fill primary care psychology posts in Cork has been described as truly shocking by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns.
“In response to a parliamentary question I submitted, it has been confirmed that Cork primary care services only advertised one psychology position this year – a replacement senior psychologist post for South Lee services.
“The scandal of lengthy waiting lists for these essential services first broke when I raised the issue in the Dáil in May of this year. Back then, there were 4,788 waiting to be seen in Cork/Kerry primary care psychology services – by mid-June, this figure had risen to over 5,000, with 105 young people in Cork waiting between four and five years for an appointment.
“This is a clear consequence of the 61 per cent vacancy rate in psychology services in the region.
“The failure to provide staff stems directly from the HSE/Department of Health’s Pay and Numbers Strategy, which is essentially a continuation of the recruitment embargo under another name. The Government needs to listen to the serious concerns that have been raised by all the main unions about this regressive strategy, and address the real harm that is being done by not recruiting staff to services that desperately need them.
“The lack of a recruitment drive to tackle the waiting list crisis in Cork/Kerry primary care psychology services is truly shocking and represents a betrayal of vulnerable young people by this Government.”
October 29, 2024