‘THIS IS BEYOND A CRISIS’
CLLR FEARS SPIKE IN SUICIDES AS A RESULT OF RESIGNATIONS
SINN Féin councillor Johnny Mythen has raised concerns that the crisis in mental health services in the South East, which culminated in Dr Kieran Moore, a specialist consultant paediatric psychiatrist in Co Wexford, and two of his colleagues stepping down, could result in ‘a rise in child and adolescent suicides’.
Dr Moore stepped down from his position saying that the situation was ‘untenable and unsafe’ as a result of poor working conditions and an unmaintainable workload being placed on staff. Ahead of a meeting between Wexford’s five TDs and Minister of State for Mental Health Jim Daly tomorrow ( Wednesday), Cllr Mythen stressed that urgent action was needed and that this could be a matter of life and death.
‘ This has gone beyond a crisis,’ he said. ‘ The position that’s being vacated in Enniscorthy area is by a lady who is only a locum and has been since 2012 when Sandra McCloud resigned due to the lack of back up services leaving her position as consultant untenable and dangerous. What do Wexford & Waterford do in July when all positions are vacated? My biggest fear is there will be a rise in child and adolescent suicides due to these cuts.’
Cllr Mythen said that Minister for Health Simon Harris needed to make himself available to meet with Wexford representatives on the matter and take action immediately.
‘Government ministers need to stop with their lip service and put the money where their mouths are. Co. Wexford has had one of the highest rates of suicide for many years, however, for far too long mental health has been a forgotten section of the health service and this needs to change immediately.’