Local Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has questioned why the numbers of patients on waiting lists to see a mental health consultant are not being kept by area.
Ní Chuilín was speaking after she submitted a written question in the Assembly to health minister Michael McGimpsey asking for a breakdown of how many people are on the mental health waiting list by constituency area.
However the minister responded saying the information is not available in that format. The Health and Social Care Board keep waiting list figures by Trust area, but not by areas such as North or West Belfast.
The Sinn Féin MLA said in an area such as North Belfast where depression and mental health problems are widespread, figures for how many people are on the waiting list should be available.
“The fact that mental health statistics are not held to show how many and how long people are waiting to see a professional is just not acceptable,” said Ní Chuilín.
“It’s a further indication of mental health services being under-resourced and the Cinderella Service of the health department.
“In North Belfast with such high levels of suicide and self harm, how can the health service be held to account effectively if we can’t measure performance through factual data?
“We wouldn’t accept this in any other public body and given we are talking about our most vulnerable citizens with mental health needs, this revelation is completely outrageous.”
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