The Health Service Executive (HSE) in the North East gave a "dressing down" to a consultant psychiatrist after she publicised the results of research highlighting the failure of administrators to adequately resource newly appointed consultants.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Irish Medical Organisation yesterday, Dr Siobhan Barry, public relations officer of the Irish Psychiatric Association, told doctors that following a report in The Irish Times of March 8th the consultant was called to a formal meeting at which disappointment was expressed at her alleged disloyalty to her employers.
She had carried out research into the experiences of consultants during their first year in post. It found that almost one in five newly appointed consultant psychiatrists had no secretarial backup 12 months after starting work. As a result they were forced to write letters by hand and had no adequate means of dealing with correspondence from GPs and other healthcare professionals.
The survey also found a significant shortfall in the appointment by health authorities of multidisciplinary team members needed to provide an adequate service for patients.
At the end of 12 months in post 70 per cent of specialists had no access to a clinical psychologist. Fewer than half of respondents were able to access the services of an occupational therapist on behalf of their patients.
The survey also found difficulties in accessing office space in which to carry out patient consultations. Dr Barry likened a psychiatrist without an office to a surgeon denied access to an operating theatre.
It also emerged that, despite the approval of 138 consultant psychiatry posts by Comhairle na nOspideal during the study period, 25 per cent of these remained vacant. Dr Barry asked what had been done with the funding for these posts.
The research, in the current Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, details the wish lists of newly appointed consultants. "Aspirations included more responsive, engaged administrators, adequately resourced mental health services, proper facilities . . . and the provision of true multidisciplinary teams".