Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the debate last night. I raised this matter during that debate and I want to tie down the particular issue of why there is not in place in the Irish mental health service a regular peer review of psychiatrists and the manner in which they are managing their patients and the prescribing of medication. When a patient is in a hospital setting, there is a team of nurses and doctors in place and there is a whole system where, if a patient is detained for a period of time, there is a full hearing on both sides of the argument as to whether that patient's care in the psychiatric hospital continues. However, for outpatient care, it appears there is a glitch in the system in that there is no peer review. This is my main concern.

I have been speaking to people involved in clinical psychology and to counsellors. All of the accredited counsellors have supervisors so there is a gatekeeper who assists them to make sure the advice and assistance they are giving is in the best interests of their patients and they can continue to improve and learn from that supervisor and gatekeeper. However, that does not appear to happen within the outpatient facility for those requiring care for psychiatric difficulties, whether in regard to depression or anxiety. I ask that a proper structure is put in place to deal with this issue.

As has been very much highlighted in recent days with the review carried out in Kerry, in the South/South West Hospital Group area of the HSE, more than 200 children were adversely affected because the checks and balances were not in place. I do not believe we can continue with the system as structured at present without having some change and ensuring there is that review. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the necessary changes in that area are made.

See this speech in context