THE HEALTH Service Executive has been accused of “bullying and silencing” a senior consultant psychiatrist who spoke out against the imminent closure of a 49-bed acute psychiatric unit.
The allegation was made yesterday by Independent TD for Tipperary South Séamus Healy, who said consultant Dr Alan Moore had been subjected to “bullying of the worst kind”.
Earlier this year Dr Moore led a campaign of opposition in the media to the closure of St Michael’s acute psychiatric unit in Clonmel – a move which was confirmed last week by the HSE, with inpatient beds earmarked for acute psychiatric cases in Co Tipperary set to be transferred to Ennis and Kilkenny.
Dr Moore previously said such a development would cause difficulties for patients and their families and that problems identified by the Mental Health Commission with the St Michael’s building could be rectified for less than €100,000. It is understood that in the meantime a letter was sent by the HSE to Dr Moore, warning him to refrain from discussing the issue in the media again without approval or he could face disciplinary action.
Yesterday when contacted by The Irish Times Dr Moore said: “I have been asked by my union to await the response of the HSE before making any further comments, but I stand by all of the previous concerns I have raised in the media.”
Mr Healy – who is also chairman of the Clonmel-based Save Our Hospital Services Committee – said there was “anger, shock and disbelief at the recent bullying and silencing by the HSE of Dr Alan Moore”.
Describing the consultant psychiatrist as a “powerful advocate for and on behalf of mental health services in Co Tipperary”, Mr Healy said the committee supported Dr Moore and has “renewed its determination to ensure the continued provision of acute in-patient psychiatric services”. The psychiatrist was doing no more than “expressing the unanimous views of his south Tipperary consultant colleagues”, according to the TD.
In a statement yesterday, the HSE said it encouraged all involved in delivering public statements to be clear and factual.
“Information given to the public should be expressed in clear and factual terms.
“It must never cause unnecessary public concern or personal distress nor should it raise unrealistic expectations,” the statement said.
Under the consultants’ contract of 2008, a consultant “may advocate on behalf of patients/service users or persons awaiting access to service” but that such advocacy should take place “within the employment context through the relevant clinical director or other line manager”, the HSE added.
Last week, HSE executives said that almost half the inpatient beds at the Clonmel psychiatric unit would be transferred to Ennis by the end of October, with the rest to switch to Kilkenny by the end of March, when St Michael’s is to close.
Replacing it locally will be an eight-bed “crisis house” for acute cases, day hospitals in Clonmel and Cashel and home-based treatment teams for psychiatric patients.