Madam, - I refer to Martin Rogan's letter (Oct 25th) regarding the continuing failure of the Mental Health Commission and HSE to complete the necessary preparatory work to have the Mental Health Act 2001, Part 2 implemented.
Mr Rogan correctly states that approximately 250 Irish people are involuntarily detained every month.
If the Mental Health Act had been in force last bank holiday weekend a patient involuntarily detained at 4pm on Sunday would have to have his/her relevant documentation faxed to the Mental Health Commission by 4pm on Monday.
That is what the legislation provides for, what consultants accept, and for which the admitting consultant psychiatrist, not any health administrator, will be held legally responsible.
The IHCA has patiently negotiated with the Mental Health Commission, and more recently with the HSE, since September 2004. Our sole aim during these negotiations has been to ensure that the Act when introduced will work to the advantage of the involuntary detained patients.
Negotiations have been terminated by the Mental Health Commission and Health Service Executive.
Their defence for their ineptitude is as tired as it is predictable - it's all the consultants' fault!.
If the HSE and Mental Health Commission and indeed the Department of Health are so genuinely concerned about the interests of the mentally ill, how come they have allowed our psychiatric services to be so neglected and underfunded for decades? - read the reports of successive inspectors of mental hospitals, Mr Rogan et al.
Resources are the responsibility of the Department of Health and HSE.
Give consultants the resources and they will do the job and they will ensure that involuntary detained patients and indeed all psychiatric patients will receive the treatment and care to which they are entitled within the letter and spirit of the law and to the highest medical standards. - Yours, etc,
FINBARR FITZPATRICK, Secretary General, Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, Dundrum, Dublin 14.