Sir, - I would like to set the record straight following a number of inaccuracies which appeared in the article on standards for pregnancy counsellors by Breda O'Brien (Opinion, May 6th). The criteria for approval of funding to voluntary counselling agencies were not, contrary to what Ms O'Brien stated in her article, introduced by the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA). They were agreed and circulated by the then Eastern Health Board before the establishment of the ERHA and their implementation is now a matter for the area health boards in the region and not the ERHA.
It is not the intention, as Ms O'Brien appears to believe, that these new criteria should result in voluntary agencies having to shut down or reduce services. Neither do the criteria require social workers to have a specific counselling qualification. Social workers have an appropriate qualification which enables them to provide counselling as part of their job.
Voluntary agencies provide a wide range of valued services in partnership with the Health Boards and the Boards wish to continue current service agreements. Health Boards have worked closely with the agencies which they fund to provide pregnancy counselling and the area health boards in the eastern region are committed to continuing that partnership.
There is general agreement that the current situation in which anybody can call themselves a counsellor - with potentially disastrous results - is unacceptable and that this is an area which needs to be regulated. The objective of the Health Boards in the eastern region is to provide advice and help to the voluntary agencies which they fund to implement standards which indeed the agencies themselves feel are necessary.
For example, at a meeting between Cura and the then EHB to discuss the criteria, the health board explained that it was open to the idea of agreeing a specific criteria/qualification for pregnancy counselling or would consider other proposals from Cura.
I should also point out that the criteria drawn up by the then EHB apply to all agencies in receipt of health board funding which are providing counselling services and not just to those providing pregnancy counselling. They also require agencies to get police clearance for employees and volunteers and to provide a written statement of their commitment to adhere to the national principles governing the notification of child abuse.
The three area health boards in the eastern region have contractual arrangements for services with over 300 voluntary agencies in the region and will always strive to have partnership arrangements with these agencies that recognise their developmental needs and the very valuable role they play in the overall delivery of services. This partnership and commitment to improve services will be continued. - Yours, etc.
Maureen Browne, Communications Director, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Canal Road, Dublin 6.
Breda O'Brien writes: I am happy to accept that the criteria in question were circulated by the EHB before its replacement on March 1st by the EHRA and three area boards. Cura, PACT and Life stand over my description of the ultimatum delivered to them. If highlighting the issue allows the health boards to rethink their approach, common sense will have been served.