THE argument about whether mental health services should be transferred back to the Department of Health is a finely balanced one, according to the Social Care chief executive.
An order transferring the island’s Mental Health Service from the Department of Social Care to the Department of Health is to be moved at the July sitting of Tynwald by Health Minister David Anderson MHK.
The proposal, which has been agreed by the Council of Ministers, follows a review.
Mental health services, which provide a wide range of clinical and community-based care for patients and service users across the island, were brought under Social Care when that department was created in the government restructuring of 2010.
The move will mean Social Care losing a quarter of its staff – 250 out of a total of 1,000 – and a 10th of its budget to the Department of Health.
Chief executive of the Department of Social Care Chris Corlett said: ‘The arguments about mental health services being in Social Care or Health are finely balanced. There are pros and cons. There is no right or wrong. Nobody is saying that having it in Social Care was a big mistake or that patients have suffered.’
Mr Corlett said transferring to the Health Department ensured closer links with colleagues in the physical health field, but then again, important elements such as accommodation and care needs remained within Social Care.
He said a review carried out by the two departments, mental health professionals and other interested parties concluded the Health Department was the appropriate place.
Mr Corlett explained that the budget for mental health was ring-fenced and the accounts would be transferred to the Health Department next year, if Tynwald approved the order.
Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK said he welcomed the move of mental health services to the Department of Health and said he had always felt it should be in a lager department.
But he added that he hoped that the links between the two departments, which had developed during mental health’s time in Social Care, would be strengthened.
‘We’ve all got to work to reducing the amount of “silo” mentality in government,’ he said.
Health Minister David Anderson MHK said the public would notice no change.
Mr Anderson said: ‘In terms of any impact on the public, if the order is approved by Tynwald, services will continue as they do at present.
‘Any changes will be of a longer term strategic nature to ensure that both our physical health and mental health teams can continue to strengthen their working relationships to provide a joined-up, collaborative, integrated and comprehensive health care service for the people of the Isle of Man.’
l opinions@newsiom.co.im