Local TD Denis Naughten has sought an update from the HSE on the review of mental health services in County Roscommon which it commissioned last year.
The review was ordered in part due to serious concerns over the operation of the service raised by Denis Naughten.
An independent external team from Northern Ireland sought submission from the public last year as part of its review of the quality, safety, and governance of mental health services in the county.
Denis Naughten made a submission to the Chairman of the review team Mr Brendan Mullen, who also sought written submissions from those who used the service or those who support them.
In his submission Deputy Naughten sought a fully independent evaluation of both acute and community mental health services in both County Roscommon and County Galway.
Denis Naughten stated: “The services in both counties are intrinsically linked and patients, particularly acutely ill patients, were pushed from one county to the other with little regard for their care requirements.
“Decisions taken on the operation of the service in County Galway directly impacted upon the service in County Roscommon. Therefore, I do not believe that it is fair to assess the Roscommon service in isolation from the service in County Galway.”
He was also critical of the care of ‘forensic’ patients (patients who have interacted with the justice system) pointing out that such patients should not be accommodated in acute psychiatric inpatient facilities such as those in Roscommon Hospital and Galway University Hospital.
Within the broader context of mental health policy Denis Naughten has been critical of the “geographic silos” used in the mental health services.
“With physical illness, the first priority is to treat the illness, but with mental illness the first priority is to get your address and refer you on to that service for care; this has to change,” stated Denis Naughten.