AN INDEPENDENT group set up to monitor the Government’s 10-year plan to transform the mental health service has strongly criticised health authorities for their lack of progress and “clear, identifiable leadership”.
A Vision for Changewas adopted as Government policy more than three years ago, accompanied by pledges that it would be fully resourced and implemented.
However, an independent monitoring group established by the Government says the Health Service Executive (HSE) has still not issued a detailed implementation proposal for the plan.
In addition, it says the absence of a clearly identifiable dedicated leader may also be contributing to the continuing poor facilities and standards of care in some areas.
Other key findings include:
- Evidence that funding of multi-disciplinary mental health teams has not been adequately prioritised, given that many are not fully staffed;
- A “recovery ethos” is not being pursued consistently across the HSE. This is vital as it will not only benefit patients, but also society and the economy as a whole, the report notes;
- The rate of progress in providing appropriate alternative accommodation is slow, in particular the closure and sale of psychiatric properties and the redeployment of resources;
- Development funding totalling about €50 million has not resulted in improvements to services for patients commensurate with this level of investment; and
- Plans for 13 new mental health catchment areas recommended in A Vision for Changeare not yet operational. These, the report says, are essential for the "coherent and co-ordinated development of mental health services".
On a more positive note, the group accepts that progress is being made in some areas. For example, it says the provision of child and adolescent services is beginning to improve, and there is better engagement of patients and improved data-collection.
In a series of recommendations to the HSE, the group calls on it to immediately appoint a dedicated leader of a “National Mental Health Services Directorate” to drive the implementation of the 10-year plan.
This leader, it says, should be at a senior national level and have the authority and resources to implement the recommendations of A Vision for Change. They should also take the necessary steps to change the culture and address impediments to ensure the recovery ethos is central to the provision of all mental health services.
In addition, it says the HSE should assess the needs of patients in psychiatric hospitals, provide appropriate levels of care, accelerate the provision of alternative community accommodation and expedite the closure and sale of psychiatric hospitals.
The monitoring report is the third of its kind to be published, each of which has raised similar concerns over the lack of leadership within the HSE to implement the blueprint.
The nine-member monitoring group includes Dr Ruth Barrington, chief executive of Molecular Medicine Ireland; Dr Susan Finnerty, acting inspector of Mental Health Services; Dora Hennessy, principal of the mental health division in the Department of Health; and former minister of state for disability Tim O’Malley.
Responding to the publication of the report yesterday, the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, John Moloney, said he welcomed the findings.
He said he agreed with the recommendation to establish a National Mental Health Service Directorate and had discussed this with the HSE’s chief executive, Prof Brendan Drumm.