Minister: Mental health plan at risk
Speaking before the Joint Committee on Health and Children yesterday, The Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health said the Government’s “Vision for Change” programme would be imperilled unless sufficient funding is provided to implement its recommendations.
The central plank of change in the mental health area would be the sale of existing psychiatric hospitals over the next five years, with the money ring-fenced to provide new facilities and the development of services.
If those measures would not be forthcoming, he said “there should be no such thing as ‘Vision for Change’,” claiming the plan was dead unless there is a firm government commitment to a five-year plan on implementing its recommendations.
Recently Martin Rogan, a former psychiatric nurse, has been appointed to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.
Mr Moloney said he wanted to return before the Committee after the budget, to outline figures as to the values of the properties he wants to sell.
He also reiterated that the Central Mental Hospital will be redeveloped, but not on its site in Dundrum in Dublin. He said three sites are being considered.
In addition, he said he was continuing work on a campaign aimed at de-stigmatising mental health problems, which could see senior figures in sport and the arts admitting that they had used mental health services.
Mr Moloney made reference to his own brief use of services in the Mater Hospital and said local newspapers and radio would be used to spearhead the campaign.
He also admitted that mental health teams were not fully staffed and he hoped this would be addressed.
As for the December 2011 deadline by which time no child should be admitted into an adult psychiatric facility, he said regrettably the date could not be brought forward.
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