The national coalition Mental Health Reform has today (14/07/2014) welcomed the continued commitment of Minister of State Kathleen Lynch to mental health.
Mental Health Reform Director Dr Shari McDaid said: “Minister Kathleen Lynch TD has shown huge commitment to modernising mental health services in line with the government policy A Vision for Change. She has championed mental health and fought hard for the Government to hold to its Programme for Government commitments on funding and staffing for community mental health services. We have had a construcitve relationship with the Minister to date and look forward to continuing to work with her.”
“With just under 100 days until Budget Day in October, it is crucial that momentum is not lost. Despite the recent recruitment of new staff to community mental health services, we note last month’s statement from the Chairman of the Mental Health Commission that the ongoing recruitment embargo is having the effect of ‘endanger(ing) the delivery of confident and responsive community based services’. A combination of additional resources from Government and managerial leadership within the HSE is needed to drive reform”, Dr McDaid concluded.
