Children face long wait for care over staff shortages

CHILDREN with mental health problems will continue to face long delays for care because of the widespread shortage of specialist staff, the Health Service Executive admitted yesterday.

The HSE said it has had great difficulty finding the necessary professionals to fill vacancies in the regional specialist care teams.

These teams have been in the pipeline for the past five years but there is still a shortage of key personnel according to the national coordinator of mental health services, Martin Rogan.