An Oireachtas committee has heard from a Kerry family who feel they have 'run out of options' to find respite for their son.
Fianna Fáil Deputy Michael Cahill has said respite beds are urgently needed for the county’s CAMHS patients.
He recently brought the issue before the Oireachteas Health Committee.
Deputy Cahill says families in Kerry have contacted him stating that they have been waiting for respite for up to 7 months.
He read a letter to the Oireachtas committee, from a family who were reaching out as a ‘last resort’ to help their son:
Addressing the committee was Kerry’s integrated area Healthcare Manager with the HSE, Dr. Julie O’Neill.
She said she was aware of the critical need for respite in Kerry, particularly out-of-hours services, and said that the HSE is making active efforts to address the issue:
