THE HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) has been strongly criticised by a monitoring body established by the Government for failing to implement a national strategy to reform the State’s mental health services. The independent monitoring group said millions allocated for the 10-year Vision for Change plan have not been spent by the HSE and that its implementation plans are “selective and vague”.
This plan was adopted as government policy in 2006, accompanied by pledges that it would be fully resourced and implemented. In addition, the group said the HSE did not address many of the concerns it raised in its last report.
On the issue of funding, it said it was concerned that €24 million of the €51 million development funding allocated to the HSE for implementing A Vision for Change was not used as planned.
The group called on the HSE to give greater priority to the implementation of A Vision for Change, and said John Moloney, the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, should ensure there is a more co-ordinated approach to implementing the blueprint across departments.
The nine-member monitoring group includes Dr Ruth Barrington, chief executive of Molecular Medicine Ireland; Dr Susan Finnerty, acting inspector of Mental Health Services; Dora Hennessy, principal of the mental health division in the Department of Health; and former minister of state for disability Tim O’Malley.
In a statement, the HSE said it was committed to implementing the blueprint and had put in place a targeted action plan which focused on six key areas for 2008.
However, the statement did not make any commitment that all money allocated to develop mental health services in future will be ring-fenced for that purpose.
Séamus McNulty, assistant national director of the HSE, said: “We acknowledge that there is much work still to be done, but we are committed to progressing this work within the set timeframe for implementing Vision for Change”.
Mr Moloney said he looked forward to seeing increased progress this year and in subsequent years.
However, Fine Gael’s spokesman on mental health Dan Neville TD said the Government had failed to provide agreed annual funding for the strategy in December’s budget and allowed previous budgets to be allocated to other areas. He also said the report made clear that the Government was trying to deliver the strategy without the resources.
