'Big concern' over funding for mental health patient services

The national clinical lead for the HSE child and youth mental health, said ringfenced funding has supported these services up to now.

Mental health patients could lose out in the move to new HSE regions unless these services and its funding are protected, consultants have said.

There are “significant concerns” for these services as the move towards regional care continues, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (ICHA) conference heard in Kilkenny.