Psychiatrists agree to take tribunal places

Consultant psychiatrists tonight agreed to take their places on Mental Health Tribunals, set up to review involuntary detentions of mental patients.

Doctors had refused to join the boards insisting they needed more staff in order to meet the strict timetables of the new tribunals.

But in an about-turn the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation confirmed they would co-operate. Failure to adhere could have left consultants and clinical directors facing fines of up to 1,500 euro or two years in jail.

Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney said the setting up of the tribunals was one of three key elements in the reform of the health service.

“The establishment of the Mental Health Tribunals, together with the continuing investment programme and the new policy document to be launched tomorrow, are the three key elements in the modernisation of our mental health services,” she said.

The Government had threatened to withhold a 1.5% pay rise for the state’s 290 consultant psychiatrists, along with all public servants, under the Sustaining Progress national deal.

Ms Harney said the money would now be paid.

The tribunals, which will comprise a consultant psychiatrist, a lawyer and a lay person, will review orders to detain people involuntarily in psychiatric hospitals.

More than 3,000 patients are involuntarily detained in psychiatric units in Ireland each year – one of the highest rates in Europe.

The tribunals will review the cases of those involuntarily detained. The 2001 Mental Health Act was designed to bring Irish law into line with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, particularly for mental patients involuntarily admitted for psychiatric care or treatment.

“I am pleased that the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation are now committed to co-operating with the full implementation of the Mental Health Act, 2001, including the participation of their consultant psychiatrist members on Mental Health Tribunals,” the Tánaiste said.