‘HSE Too Fragmented’ – Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists have called for mental health services to be included in the remit of the new Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) which will be set up shortly to monitor and maintain safety standards in the health service.

The Irish College of Psychiatrists, at a meeting with Minister of State at the Department of Health Tim O’Malley yesterday said this exclusion was of concern to all psychiatrists.

“Mental health services should not be stigmatised by being separate from other parts of the health services. HIQA will have the depth and breadth of expertise and resources that no other body can have,” the College said.

The College also told the Minister that the current HSE structure is proving to be too fragmented for the implementation of new programmes, such as the development of services for people with intellectual disabilities.

It called for a separate national directorate for intellectual disability services to be set up.