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A SOLICITOR WHOSE firm represents over 100 clients directly impacted by the North Kerry child and adolescent mental health services scandal has called for Government to implement a redress scheme for those affected.
Keith Rolls’s comments follow the publication of a long-awaited review into mental health services in North Kerry. It found that more than half of the 374 children included in the review were at risk of harm.
Rolls said the report made for “very stark and distressing reading”.
The long-awaited review found that the level of care given to children was “inconsistent with standard practice” in children and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) nationally.
The review, which was ordered after the 2022 Maskey report, also identified a high rate of prescribing anti-psychotic medicines as one of its core concerns.
The review found that among children whose cases it reviewed, the rate of prescribing of psychotropic medication was much higher than the national norm, particularly for children with an intellectual disability.
This group of patients was found to be at a greater risk of potential for harm as baseline physical health assessment and monitoring were “virtually absent”.
The prescription of two or more psychotropic medications at the same time was also noted to be a concerning feature of the care given to children.
Meanwhile, prescribing of antipsychotic medication was 64% higher than the national average.
Rolls told RTÉ’s Six One News the review’s findings have “caused a lot of upset and anger amongst Kerry families today”.
He said he hopes the next steps following the publication of the report will see the State incorporate a North Kerry compensation scheme where affected families will have to opportunity to seek “appropriate redress” without having to go through High Court litigation.
He further described a statement by the HSE in which it said it would review some of the files relating to cases in North Kerry as “completely inappropriate”.
“The only review that is appropriate now is to ensure that every single case that these particular clinicians who have provided care to these individuals, that all cases are reviewed since they commence treating these patients in Kerry,” Rolls said.
Speaking ahead of the publication of the review in the Dáil earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it has revealed “absolutely unacceptable” medical practices.
Families of the young people involved were sent a copy of the review this morning ahead of its expected publication later today.
Raising the issue during Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the matter as a “scandal” and asked the Taoiseach what supports will be given to the children and young people affected.
“These negligent prescribing practices had devastating consequences, which included psychological distress, cognitive impairment, considerable weight gain, excess sedation and high blood pressure.
“Taoiseach, I have met and spoken with some of the young people and families in Kerry, and they have told me of the devastation this caused to their lives,” the Sinn Féin leader said.
She added:
“These young people were in crisis. They reached out for help, and they were failed.”
In response, the Taoiseach said: “I mean, the first principle of medicine is ‘do no harm’. Harm has been done here in terms of the treatment of quite a number of young people in North Kerry.”
He said the first priority of the Government will be to continue to support impacted families, with Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler travelling to Kerry tomorrow and Friday to meet with those affected.
He added that no concerns relating to prescribing practice in services have been identified outside of Co Kerry.
The Taoiseach admitted the review took longer than anticipated and said there will now be a need for an “extended look back in terms of absolute certainty for all cases”.
He added that he understands there is a referral to the Medical Council in respect of what has transpired in Kerry.
The Irish Medical Organisation both welcomed the review and said its findings were “devastating”. Its vice president Professor Matthew Sadlier said apologies were insufficient and urgent reform is required.
Poor governance and under resourcing were the main factors to blame, Sadlier said, adding that the teams in Kerry were understaffed, thus denying patients the level of care needed.
“The system is set up to fail as geographically isolated community-based services have always had difficulties with staff recruitment and retention which leads to poor outcomes for patients,” he added.
Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson Sorca Clarke said “vulnerable children have been failed” and said the matter “cannot and must not be spun as a localised management issue”.
“This is a Government failure. A failure to properly staff, resource and oversee Camhs services.Children were left paying the price and parents were left picking up the pieces.”
Marie Sherlock, Labour’s spokesperson on health, said Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill must outline how she intends to intensify supports for Camhs to reduce waiting lists and provide adequate and safe staffing levels across the country.
Sherlock said the previous Maskey report, today’s report, “and the testimony of parents of the young people impacted are absolutely harrowing and would send a chill down any parent’s spine. This must never be allowed to happen again.”
The Social Democrats’ mental health spokesperson Liam Quaide added that an investment in services, a strengthening of oversight, “and clear accountability where these grave failures of care occurred” is required.
Additional reporting by Emma Hickey
