HSE ‘alienated’ doctors, says report

THE HSE “alienated” a group of consultant psychiatrists by publicly announcing the closure of an acute psychiatric unit without warning the consultants of the decision.

That’s according to an expert’s report into the decision last year to shut the 49-bed St Michael’s acute psychiatric unit in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Consultant psychiatrists in south Tipperary have now accused the HSE of behaving in “a dictatorial manner” by deciding to close the unit and move inpatients to Kilkenny.