Top doctor quits over mental health crisis

A TOP doctor has blasted the Taoiseach’s decision to splash cash on the new Metro Link when he can’t fix the mental health crisis.

College of Psychiatrists president Dr John Hillery revealed yesterday he has packed in the job, insisting the current system is “shambolic”.

This scathing criticism comes just after a junior minister bragged about hiring new psychiatrists to ease the burden on the scandal-hit service.

Minister for Mental Health Jim Daly said: “The number of children waiting for services should now fall further as these posts, which have a geographical spread, start to make an impact on access times for services.”

But Dr Hillery insisted it’s too little too late and has resigned after 30 years. In the keynote address at yesterday’s Family Carers Ireland conference in Dublin, he said kids are suffering because of failed policies.

Dr Hillery added: “One example of this is the way young people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour lose their respite and sometimes other services once they leave school.

“It may be there is no money for these issues. If that is so why is there money for less important issues such as Metro Link?” Last week three

Dr John Hillery consultant child psychiatrists in Waterford and Wexford resigned, citing exhaustion.

Fianna Fail mental health spokesman and Wexford TD James Browne said: “I don’t blame [them], they are in an impossible situation. The system is under so much pressure they have to decide which child is more deserving of getting the support they need.

“The Government has failed prioritise mental health.

“The College of Psychiatrists asked for a 10% increase in specialist training, but the Government would only give 5%, that equates with only three extra places on the programme. Dr Hillery was extremely frustrated by this.”

The Department of Health issued a statement this month announcing they are hiring 114 assistant psychologists who will work under supervision of qualified professionals, and 20 fully registered psychologists.

Critics have blasted the move as just a drop in the ocean. to

Number of years Dr Hillery has worked in the mental health services