7 January 2005

Irish College of Psychiatrists Raises
Omission of Specialists in Mental Health Act

In a recent letter to Minister Mary Harney, The Chairman of the Irish College, Dr Kate Ganter raised, “the omission in the Mental Health Act 2001 of certain specialists in psychiatry who are not defined as ‘consultant psychiatrist’ under the Act”

“Under Part I, (1), ‘consultant psychiatrist’ means a consultant psychiatrist who is employed by a health board or by an approved centre or a person whose name is entered on the division of psychiatry or the division of child and adolescent psychiatry of the Register of Medical Specialists maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland”.

Dr Ganter went on to state that, “There are a number of psychiatrists who are not on either of the above divisions, but are on the divisions of a) psychiatry of old age and b) psychiatry of learning disability.  This means that they are not eligible to provide independent assessments or to be a member of the Mental Health Review Tribunals.  Their expertise would be particularly required when the person, subject of an application, is an older person, or has an intellectual disability.  We are recommending that these two divisions be included under the definition of consultant psychiatrist”.

The Irish College has also recommended that, “where there is a transfer to the Central Mental Hospital, we would recommend that a Forensic Psychiatrist provide the independent assessment”.