TD says Console clients going unheard amid controversy

Concerns have been raised that clients of the charity Console are not being listened to while talk predominates about the winding down of the controversial suicide charity.

Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart said the focus had correctly been on the "emerging scandalous management" of Console.

But he said “there are voices which have not been heard and which have been given little volume since the story first broke.

“They are the voices of clients who, most disturbingly, seem to be the very last to be considered as talk of a wind-down of Console gains traction.”

The Dublin South-West TD said neither of the two agencies he had heard mentioned for the transfer of Console services specialised in the bereavement counselling services Console offered in the past 10 to 15 years.

But Minister of State for Mental Health Helen McEntee told him that how the controversy has affected and will affect the staff, counsellors, patients and service users “has been to the forefront”.

She said the reason there had been little comment from her, from the Department of Health or from the HSE on the issue was because “it is sensitive and we want to ensure that they are briefed and happy with what is happening, that whatever process happens next is right and suits their needs and that the service provided will continue. That is the priority”.

Mr Lahart said a number of questions might be going through the minds of clients about alternative or replacement services, particularly for those in a vulnerable position.

He said they could be wondering if they would see the same counsellor again, if the same counsellor would be available to them in a replacement service and where they will see the counsellor.

The TD also said Console clients might be wondering who would be responsible for their case notes in a replacement service and if their notes “without the knowledge of the client (would) be passed on to another organisation designated to do the work of Console”.

It was important he said “to distinguish between the relative ease in the business world with which clients can be transferred from one business to another after a liquidation and the sensitivity surrounding the issue”.

Mr Lahart added that when the chief executive of the HSE “speaks about contingency planning and replacement services, it needs to be spelled out a little more”.

The Minister stressed that the HSE had responsibility to ensure personal data such as medical records were used and shared appropriately and legally and that they are not disclosed to unauthorised third parties.

Ms McEntee added that “now more than ever we need to make sure people have confidence in these organisations in order that wherever the service users will move to, they will have confidence in that organisation”.

The Minister said a lot of confidence had been knocked and unfortunately what had happened at Console and one or two other organisations “has left a bad taste in people’s mouths. However it is not the norm”.