‘Vested interests’ opposed minister

JUNIOR Health Minister Tim O’Malley has revealed that “certain vested interests” tried to prevent his reappointment as minister with responsibility for mental health during September’s Cabinet reshuffle.

While declining to identify those involved, he said they were the same vested interests that resisted change and wanted to maintain the status quo for mental health services.

“A lot of people expected I would not be reappointed to that position. But I went to see the Taoiseach and asked to stay on because I am passionate about mental health,” the minister told delegates to the International Conference on Mental Health in UCC.

The minister said he was in the process of bringing about a major change in mental health services. The emphasis would move from hospital care and medical intervention to a community-based service. He also promised patients would be given a voice in decision-making and in formulating mental health policy.

“Our policy is to provide care in the community and allow users of the system to stay close to their loved ones.” He said he also wanted to see more vocational qualifications for entrants into the medical profession.

The minister also defended his department’s decision to site the new Central Mental Hospital adjacent to Mountjoy Prison, saying that the new €73 million facility would provide the best possible care for those with a mental illness.

Mr O’Malley said the decision to build the new hospital on the same site as Mountjoy made sense because most patients in the Central Mental Hospital were prison inmates.

“I agree that it may not be acceptable but it will be a state-of-the-art facility and 97% of people who go to the Central Mental Hospital come from jails,” he said.