The HSE is not hopeful that a vacancy for a Senior Psychologist for Carrick on Shannon will be filled in the near future.
The role with the local Community Mental Health Team was advertised to a national panel in recent weeks, with the HSE confirming no expressions of interest were made over taking up the job.
The update follows a question by local councillor Paddy Farrell at the Western Region Health Forum this week, where he asked for an update on the provision of a community psychology unit for adults and children.
It's hoped that availability at the Primary Care Psychology clinic will increase in coming weeks with a separate Senior Clinical Psychologist post filled in recent weeks, subject to the completion of HR processes.
According to Chief Officer with CHO 1, Dermot Monaghan, the local vacancy is a service priority but the difficulty in filling senior mental health roles is a wider issue facing organisations across the country.
