The HSE has apologised for a letter that was sent to GPs telling them mental health services in parts of North Dublin were being suspended.
In the letter, it said "high referral numbers" meant primary care mental health services were being suspended in Raheny, Donaghmede, Edenmore and Kilbarrack.
A north Dublin GP tweeted a picture of the letter yesterday, saying he'd been left "speechless" after receiving it that morning.
Received on my desk this morning. Speechless can @HSELive @SimonHarrisTD @LeoVaradkar please explain? pic.twitter.com/xI973SiGNy
— Barry (@dladhimself) May 17, 2019
However, in a statement , the HSE says it "does not represent the factual position" and it would be contacting doctors in the area next week to clarify.
"CHO [Community Healthcare Organisations] Dublin North City & County wishes to express their sincere apologies for the incorrect information that issued in this letter. It does not represent the factual position," it said.
"CHO Dublin North City & County has confirmed that Community Mental Health Services for Kilbarrack are not affected. Clients can continue to be referred directly to the Community Mental Health Team in Kilbarrack by their GP," it added.
Labour senator Aodhán Ó Riordain says more questions need to be answered.
"We really need to get some clarity as to why the letter was sent in the first place, why it makes sense that there's an increasaed demand but that services would stop, and what strains are on the mental health services if this type of communication was sent in the first place," he said.
