Some staff in Roscommon mental health services normalised bad behaviour and others perpetrated it, according to a review of the services, which began because of allegations of improper sexual contacts.

Allegations of inappropriate conduct at a facility in the county led to the report being carried out. The review team, which visited nine different mental health facilities in the county, was highly critical of the financial focus of those running the service.

The report found that there was a prime focus on cost-cutting and this resulted in significant delays in posts being filled, especially when staff left.

It found that one recurring theme was that when staff raised the staffing issues with senior management, nothing was done to address the underlying problem.

The team found no evidence of satisfactory supervision for consultant medical staff.

The review team said there was a serious issue with professional relationships among staff, which led to widespread friction and tensions, particularly between some senior managers and staff groupings.

The focus was on cost containment to the detriment of quality care, according to staff.

The view found allegations by a small number of staff of a malicious campaign of conspiracy by some of their other colleagues during the inquiry process. Some staff objected to working with other team members.

The majority of staff felt frustrated, disillusioned and unsupported within the multidisciplinary team setting.

The review said some members of staff refused to cooperate with the inquiry until its draft report was published and supplied to them.

The report was carried out for the HSE by experts from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland.

Roscommon Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice told Midwest News this morning that the report is a damning one.