College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

Date published 20 Jan, 2020

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details Potential Crisis in Basic Specialist Training numbers in Psychiatry/Mental Health Services & to thank Minister for recent intervention in issue of Higher Specialist Trainee posts training & salaries funding despite previous forecasting.Number of 2020 intake of BSTs being reduced by HST NDTP from 60 to 20 & issue of under funding for posts previously and in 2020. Impact this will have on immediate and longer term service provision to patients in Mental Health Services.

Intended results To maintain the trainee levels necessary to ensure appropriate service provision in the short to medium term as well as the necessary availability of fully trained specialists for the Irish system in the long-term. Intake of minimum 60 BSTs with adequate training funds from HSE NDTP for the upcoming selection process (Jan 2020) is required. Direct intervention from Mr Daly to secure this funding to ensure that sufficient psychiatry junior doctors for acute mental health services are recruited.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dr John Hillery, President

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Phone call (1)

To Department of Health staff to follow up on letter and provide any further information if needed to the Department and to Minister Daly and to give update on other avenues being pursued with NDTP and others in HSE to progress and solve the urgent matter.

Email (2-5)

DoH update on action carried out on behalf of Minister Daly and to provide our update to DoH on same.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Jim Daly Minister of State (Department of Health)