Our colleague Dr Edel McGinnity, a GP in Mulhuddart in west Dublin and a member of the Deepend Ireland group was featured on RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland and on the RTE Six One news this week responding to the review of “Vision for Change” policy by the Mental Health Commission.
The review was critical of the almost “total absence” of community mental health services – which the College and many of its GP members has been highlighting via the Oireachtas Committees for some time now.
Dr McGinnitty has been an advocate for more resources for areas of deprivation, alongside her colleagues in the Deepend Ireland group.
She highlighted the tremendous pressures that GPs are under – as the former “same day service” is not always possible anymore.
She said A&E is not the place for people with mental distress, and community mental health teams are not properly resourced with staff and suitable accommodation.
Many thanks to Dr McGinnity for giving her time to highlight this important issue.