The organisation Mental Health Reform, which promotes improved and prioritised mental health services in Ireland, has welcomed the decision by Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly to establish a new directorate structure for the HSE. The new structure involves the establishment of a new directorate system for running the health service, and the abolition of the old HSE board. This new directorate system will include a director for mental health.
Orla Barry, Director of the Mental Health Reform stated that, “the new director for mental health is crucial in order to oversee the 35 million euro committed in the 2012 Irish budget for community-based mental health services, and also to ensure that the staff promised in the HSE’s 2012 service plan are put in place by the end of the year”.
The Irish Times noted that the need for a body to drive change at an executive level within the HSE has been highlighted by interest groups and by an independent monitoring group.
Click here to read an article by the Irish Times.
Click here to read a press release from Mental Health Reform.