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20 January 2004
Mental Health Services Must be a Priority
Consideration in Health Services Reform
Speaking at the Psychiatry Section of the Royal Academy of Medicine
in Ireland this evening Dr Kate Ganter, Chairperson of the Irish
College of Psychiatrists said, "During the development of
the Health Services Reform, the delivery of Mental Health Services
was not a priority. It is important that we make it one NOW –
in 2004. In particular I must stress the following issues:
- "Funding and management structures must
reflect the function of our services. Surgery and Medicine have
been catered for as acute services, but the diversity of delivery
of mental health does not "fit" the structures envisaged".
This structural issue must be addressed now or it will continue
to seriously restrict the development of the services into the
future"
- "We as psychiatrists must insist on one
Directorate for all specialties and sub-specialties in Psychiatry,
in order to provide a seamless service with ease of transition
from one specialty to another. E.g. from child and adolescent
to adult. This would facilitate the need for a shared funding
and management structure within the directorate. The Irish College
of Psychiatrists believes we are best placed in the National
Hospital Office as a specialist service with acute units in
general hospitals"
- "Consultant Psychiatrists are the 3rd
largest group of Consultants, and trainee psychiatrists are
30% of the NCHD workforce. In the Hanly Report, however, there
is little information or discussion specifically addressing
the problems and solutions for psychiatric trainees being compliant
with EU Working Time Directives. We also have to contend with
the impact of the implementation of the Mental Health Act 2001
and the pending Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002. Our working
lives in 2010 are likely to be very different"
- "This meeting here this evening is of extreme importance.
At a time of major change we are presented with an opportunity
to get the fundamentals right. If we get the fundamentals right
we can provide a first class service that people who require assistance
can access - is properly structured, funded and managed"
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