Cork child psychology crisis: HSE says it’s ‘difficult’ to fill posts due to candidate shortages

More than 6,000 children across Cork are on the waiting list for psychological treatment, 4,000 of them for longer than 12 months. The number of psychologists in the region is “not sufficient to meet the population’s needs”.

According to figures provided to The Echo by the Health Service Executive South West, as of August 31 there were 6,114 children in Cork waiting to receive psychological treatment, and 4,286 waiting longer than 52 weeks.

The figures represent a 26% increase on the same time period of last year, when the number was 4,841.

The South Lee division has the highest number of children waiting for more than a year for treatment, at 1,716; followed by the North Lee division, with 1,666; the North Cork division, with 546; and the West Cork division, with 358.

Of the 6,114 children waiting in Cork, 473 have been waiting for up to 12 weeks; 568 have been for between 12 and 26 weeks; 369 waiting for between 26 and 39 weeks; 418 for between 39 and 52 weeks; and 4,268 have been waiting for more than 52 weeks.

According to the HSE, there are a total of 11.63 whole time equivalent (WTE) psychologists working across Cork, including two principal psychologists, 5.5 senior psychologists, and 4.13 staff grade psychologists, with a further six psychology assistants.

A spokesperson for the HSE said it has been “difficult” to fill vacant psychology related positions as there is a shortage of qualified candidates.

“There is currently a national and international shortage of professionally trained psychologists,” the spokesperson said.

“It has been difficult for HSE South West to fill vacancies across all services, including primary care services in both Cork and Kerry.

“It continues to be difficult to fill posts in more rural areas away from urban centres,” they added.

“The level of approved posts is not sufficient to meet the population’s needs in the HSE South West region.

“The ratio of staff to population in the HSE South West region is much lower than in other parts of the country.”

The spokesperson additionally said there are “a number of key factors” that have contributed to the increasing demand on psychology services since 2020, including a change in national practice.

“There has been a change in practice nationally as to which children should be seen in primary care services. Historically, children with disabilities would have been seen in disability service.

“As of 2022, children with mild non-complex disability are now being directed to primary care psychology for assessment and intervention.

“There has also been a significant increase in public awareness of and demand for assessment for ADHD and autism.”

The spokesperson said HSE South West has sought submissions from external organisations and providers and will progress “all feasible and available models including outsourcing and in-reaching”.