Madam, – The HSE’s planned cuts to mental health services in the West reported by Eithne Donnellan (Home News, November 15th) are a microcosm of what is planned nationally. The college is disheartened by the lack of commitment by Government through the HSE to implement its own mental health policy, the progressive disempowerment of mental health services through ill-considered service reductions, the withdrawal of funding and the pervasive absence of accountable leadership across the HSE.
The college wishes to highlight the disproportionate level of service cutbacks affecting mental health services. Those with the most disabling and enduring mental illness are principally affected through bed closures, staff vacancies and a new plan to withdraw rehabilitation and recovery services.
It is the view of this college that targeted cutbacks on specialist teams that are tasked with assisting the recovery of those with serious and enduring mental illness represents an assault on those members of the community with the weakest voice. – Yours, etc,