Health Minister Manuel Pizarro acknowledged on Tuesday that there is a shortage of child psychiatrists in the National Health Service (SNS) relative to needs, estimating that about 200 specialists would be needed and there are 132.
The newspaper Público reports on Tuesday that there is a shortage of child psychiatrists and other technicians in the SNS and that there are hospitals where the waiting time for an appointment is 200 days and more beds are needed. Asked about this situation during a visit to the emergency department of Fernando Fonseca Hospital, which serves the municipalities of Amadora and Sintra, Manuel Pizarro assured that they are working to expand the service to mental health issues, but clarified that these issues are not are only treated by specialists in child and adolescent psychiatry.
The minister added that these specialists are “fortunately only needed for the most serious and complex cases, with” many other cases that can be treated by general practitioners, by psychologists in health centers, which need to be increased more, and by other health professionals. “Fortunately, the intervention of a doctor in that specialty is not necessary in most cases, because that is indeed embarrassing”he said, acknowledging that there are “fewer child psychiatrists in the National Health Service in terms of needs.”
Manuel Pizarro said they are training more doctors, but at the same time they need to be trained and be able to attract these doctors, with some regions of the country having greater needs. He also stressed that community mental health teams are “increasing a lot”, adding that funding from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) has seen 10 new teams established by 2022 and 10 more will be established this year.
On the other hand, he said, the recruitment of psychologists is increasing, which is “still not enough”, despite 90 psychologists entering health centers in the past three years and 1,000 psychologists being admitted to schools in the past six years . . “It means we are aware of this problem and the need to respond” in this area, Manuel Pizarro finished.
Source: DN
