HSE criticised over failure on one-to-one counselling service

Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness has hit out at the HSE for not funding voluntary counselling services providing on-the-spot counselling for vulnerable people who need help immediately.
Deputy McGuinness claimed that the HSE is failing to provide adequate one-to-one counselling for vulnerable people who have mental health problems and need to be seen by a counsellor after hours and at weekends.
“People are being referred to voluntary services such as Teac Tom but they are not getting reimbursed for their efforts,” Deputy McGuinness said.
“Properly funded voluntary services have the capacity to provide the type of out-of-hours logistical support that is badly needed in Kilkenny but the HSE continues to turn a blind eye to this.
“These voluntary services are expanding to cope with the increased demand but we cannot expect them to provide all the support provisions that are badly needed in Kilkenny,” he added.
Deputy McGuinness also voiced his concern over one-to-one counselling waiting lists under current HSE schemes.