Health

North Kerry Camhs sample audit to be completed by late October, says HSE

Local TD calls for full audit of files, to look beyond just one doctor and over a much longer period

The review of the south Kerry service over a five-year period found inappropriate prescribing and lack of oversight of patients of a north Kerry-based doctor. File photograph: PA
The review of the south Kerry service over a five-year period found inappropriate prescribing and lack of oversight of patients of a north Kerry-based doctor. File photograph: PA
Anne Lucey
Tue Sept 20 2022 - 21:00

The HSE expects to have completed an audit of a sample of files of those attending Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) in north Kerry by late October, it has said.

An “audit” of a sample and random 50 files was begun in June and this represents about 10 per cent of the total case load in north Kerry. It followed a review by London consultant Dr Seán Maskey into the south Kerry mental health service for young people earlier this year.

The review of the south Kerry service over a five-year period found inappropriate prescribing and lack of oversight of patients of a north Kerry-based doctor. It found significant harm was done to 46 young people. RTÉ reported on Monday that a five-year review of the case files of the doctor’s patients has been initiated by the HSE.

“For completeness and as a matter of good practice”, consultants are also now also screening further files in north Kerry to identify any remaining files where the doctor, who worked in the Camhs service in both parts of Kerry, “may have had an involvement at any level”, the HSE said on Tuesday.

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It expected many of those files had already been identified, it said.

It is understood the non-Irish junior doctor, who worked in the HSE’s mental health service for young people, had much less involvement in north Kerry than in the Killarney and south Kerry area.

Sinn Féin TD for Kerry Pa Daly said the north Kerry Camhs audit needs to be a full review. It needs to look beyond just one doctor and over a much longer period, he said.

Dr Maskey, who has already looked at 35 north Kerry files, will be asked to examine any north Kerry files where there may be clinical concern.

“We have asked Dr Maskey to do this work given his experience, his knowledge and his familiarity given the work he has already done. Dr Maskey has indicated that he will be available to undertake this work in the coming months,” the HSE said.