Psychiatrist slams lack of progress in mental health services

The president of the College of Psychiatrists has questioned the priorities of the finance minister in funding a train to Dublin Airport while services for carers are shambolic and mental health professionals are working in clinics with snails climbing up the walls.

Dr John Hillery, who resigned from the HSE because of lack of progress in mental health services and what he sees as an unwillingness for rapid change, was giving a keynote address to the Family Carers Ireland conference ‘Life After Care’.

“The fact that we are still discussing these issues as needs rather than as facts is a disgrace. It is one of the reasons I resigned my clinical post earlier this year after nearly 30 years in the mental health and intellectual disability services as a trainee and consultant.”