The lead investigator in the independent review into the Roscommon Mental Health Service has indicated that the report will be delivered to the HSE in early March.
Explaining the 12 month delay in the publishing of the Roscommon Mental Health Service review the HSE said, in a statement released a short time ago, that respecting its (the investigators) independence, “it has not been possible for the HSE to be directive regarding the conduct of the review once the terms of reference had been agreed.”
The statement continued “The HSE will not be in receipt of any information in relation to the review until the delivery of the completed report – otherwise the review process would be undermined.”
“The HSE has raised the issue of delay with the investigation team on a number of occasions. The investigators have explained that due to the large number of interested parties and the fact many have relocated or retired the interviewing process and the due process following this have been elongated. The lead investigators have communicated that the complexity of ensuring that natural justice is afforded to all interested parties has also meant the repeated involvement of their legal advisers adding to the time line.”
It concluded by stating “The HSE took the unusual step of requesting to meet the independent review team prior to the completion of their work in order to stress that any further delay would not be tenable. The Executive was given assurances that the report will be completed in early March. Therefore a meeting did not take place.”
Commenting on the news Senator Maura Hopkins said that she had again met with the Minister of State for Mental Health Services, Helen McEntee in relation to report and made it very clear to her the fact that “the (Roscommon Mental Health) report is urgently needed”.
“Minister McEntee informed me today the report of mental health services will be completed in early March. The Minister also advised me that the HSE has raised the issue of delay with the independent investigation team on a number of occasions. The investigators have explained that due to the large number of interested parties and the fact that many have relocated or retired the interviewing process and the due process following this have been elongated.”
Senator Hopkins continued “the review of mental health services was commissioned on 28th August 2015, which is over a year and a half ago. This review is examining the quality, safety and governance of our local mental health services. The people of Roscommon have waited long enough at this stage and it is really important that it is made available as quickly as possible. I do expect this report to identify weaknesses within the mental health services in Roscommon. I also expect it to provide recommendations for improvement. Our focus must be on providing a more positive and improving service for people with mental health difficulties.”