The review of Roscommon Mental Health Services, published earlier this week, was raised at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting by Minister Denis Naughten.

The external review found examples of “systematic failings in reporting and managing incidents of sexualised behaviour” and an overemphasis on financial prudence ahead of patient safety and care – revealing that over 17 million euro was returned unspent to the HSE between 2012 and 2014.

The report made 27 recommendations, and Minister Naughten told his Cabinet colleagues that all the recommendations contained in the review must be implemented in full.

He also says there are serious questions to be answered – such as why did the system and national management ignore facts and concerns and fail to act? Why was there a focus on cost rather than the quality of the service being provided when over a three year period a substantial proportion of the budget was returned unspent?

He says people must be held accountable for their actions and the service must be properly resourced to meet the needs of those who rely on our mental health services.

Denis Naughten pointed out that this report has implications for acute and community mental health services in both County Roscommon and County Galway, as the services are instrinsically linked.

The Roscommon-based Minister says it’s clear from this review that the rights of patients and staff have been blatantly ignored by the HSE, and he had to bring many of the issues highlighted in this report to the floor of Dáil Éireann because staff complaints were being ignored.