Smyth voices her concerns about mental health services
At the most recent Regional Health Forum for Dublin Mid-Leinster meeting with the HSE, Cllr Hazel Smyth, the mayor of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, raised multiple serious issues about mental health service provision in Westmeath.
Speaking following a presentation by the HSE on how mental services are being provided within the region, Cllr Smyth, who has previously volunteered with the Crisis-Text helpline, praised those working to support people in Ireland with mental health services but noted that she was aware of many shortcomings in the current service offering by the HSE.
She queried what measures were being taken by the HSE to deal with the recent “significant areas” of safe practice raised by the Mental Health Commission in terms of St Loman’s Hospital, Mullingar, including record-keeping relating to medication; while also mentioning the praise given to staff at the hospital.
Jim Ryan, on behalf of the HSE, responded to note that the local management team were putting in a plan to deal with the areas requiring improvements.
Cllr Smyth also raised the long waiting lists that many face when seeking mental health supports and referred to the significant number of unfilled psychiatrist posts in Ireland.
She called for the provision of dedicated resources to deal with mental health provision both at GP level and within hospital emergency departments. Referencing a recent article in the Irish Medical Times, Cllr Smyth expressed concern regarding reporting that emergency departments were turning away patients at risk of suicide.
“Mullingar regional hospital was an example of a hospital that does not have a 24/7 psychiatric unit, which represents a health and safety hazard for patients who are at extreme immediate risk and may need to wait for some time until a psychiatrist on duty is available to assess them,” she said in a statement to the Westmeath Examiner.
Cllr Smyth also voiced concern about the “disjointed nature” of mental health care currently in Ireland due to the issues with the IT systems deployed by the HSE and that there was a need for better monitoring of anti-psychotic drugs and improved follow up appointment with patients.
She also said that the practice of children being admitted to psychiatric adult units was “concerning”.