The HSE has published the Maskey Review into the care received by children and young people at South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health services between July 2016 and April 2021.
The report was commissioned by Castleisland native, Michael Fitzgerald, Chief Officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, which has responsibility for HSE mental health services in Kerry.
Standards Not Met
The review found that the care received by 240 young people did not meet the standards which it should have, and the HSE has apologised to these young people and their families.
Dr. Seán Maskey found “unreliable diagnoses, inappropriate prescriptions and poor monitoring of treatment and potential adverse effects” which exposed many children unnecessarily to the risk of significant harm.
Significant Harm to Children
The report also details that significant harm was caused to 46 children and young people, including weight gain; sedation; elevated blood pressure and galactorroea (the production of breast milk).
“We have sincerely apologised to the 46 young people and their families, and we wish to repeat this apology publicly,” according to the statement.
HSE officials and clinicians offered meetings to all 240 of the young people who did not receive the care they should have.
Written Apologies
“We have apologised in writing to those affected, we apologised in person at meetings and we sincerely repeat this apology.
We opened an information line in April for young people and their families on 1800 742 800. The current opening hours are 8am to 8pm seven days a week.
Implementation of Recommendations
“Young people and their families are entitled to expect a high standard of care when they attend our services, and the report makes it clear that this did not happen in a large number of cases.
As chief officer of the organisation, I apologise sincerely to the young people and their families for this. I want to reassure the young people and their families that we have taken on board the 35 recommendations in the report, and will implement them as quickly as we can.”
Rebuilding Trust – Mr. Fitzgerald
“In publishing the report, it is very important to us that we thank the young people and their families involved in the review. I attended some of the meetings with the young people myself, so that I could hear about the experience they had with our service first hand and also to offer them a formal apology.
“The staff involved in the extensive review process have been humbled by the dignity shown by the young people and their families, by the patience they have had with the process and also by the respect they have shown for our staff. It is clear to us that we let people down and we have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust in the service, and this work has already begun,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
Improve Service and Confidence – Dr. Young
Dr. Maura Young, Executive Clinical Director of Kerry Mental Health Services said that they are apologising to the young people who did not receive the care they should have.
“The publication of the review is one part in the process in rebuilding trust in the service, and we will use the recommendations from Dr Seán Maskey to improve the service and rebuild the community’s confidence in the service.
No Fault of the Young People
“During our meetings with young people and their families, many people asked us if there was anything they themselves should have done differently. I want to be very clear that there is nothing that any child, young person, parent or guardian should have done differently.
“You put your faith in our service, and you did not receive the service which you expected, and which you were entitled to expect. The report makes it clear that while there were many reasons for the failings, none of the fault lies with a young person or family member,” Dr. Young concluded.
The full report and other documentation prepared to update the young people and families involved are at: www.hse.ie/southkerrycamhsreview
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