HSE cuts number of psychiatrists in Galway

THE NUMBER of consultant psychiatrists working in the mental health service in Galway is to be reduced by two as a result of new budget cuts.

The Irish Timesunderstands that two temporary locum consultants with fixed-purpose contracts are to be let go from later this month.

The move is being strongly opposed by the doctors’ representatives who, it is understood, have maintained that the purpose of the contracts had not yet been concluded.

It is understood that the Health Service Executive psychiatric service in east Galway recorded a financial deficit of more than €482,000 in the first six months of the year.

Informed sources said that in future there would be 15 rather than the current 17 consultant psychiatrists operating across all adult and child mental health services in Co Galway.

HSE West declined to comment on the specific issue relating to the two consultant psychiatrists. In a statement, it said: “The HSE does not comment on HR matters as they relate to individual staff members.

“In general terms, the HSE, across all its services, may from time to time recruit staff temporarily and provide them with temporary contracts of employment to carry out a particular function or undertake specific duties.

“It would be normal practice that once a temporary contract comes to an end, a person’s employment with the HSE would cease.

“There are currently 15 consultant psychiatrists and 34 non-consultant hospital doctors working in teams across the Galway mental health services.

“In addition, the team includes nurses [including clinical nurse specialists, advanced nurse practitioners], social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists and other specialists.”

However, other sources maintained that these cases were different to those in which staff had been let go once the term of their temporary contracts had expired.

Official accounts for the mental health services in east Galway show that during the first six months of the year, it spent more than €160,000 on furniture, hardware and crockery.

HSE sources said that during that period it had moved services to a new premises near Tuam and had refurbished some accommodation in the community. They said that this spending had been offset by some savings on rent.