An update from Conor McCarthy, Group CEO Saint John of God Hospitaller Services Group. - 

Dear Colleagues,                                                                                                                       4th August 2021

I am delighted that it has been possible to suspend the notification to transfer to the HSE the Intellectual Disability and Community Mental Health Services we provide through Saint John of God Community Services. Those services are a very significant component of our mission in Ireland.

 

The Order of Saint John of God established Mental Health Services in Ireland in 1882, and Intellectual Disability Services in 1924, and the Order has sponsored the expansion and development of those services throughout the intervening years. Responsibility for sponsorship has now been transferred to the Board of Sponsors of the Group, and that Board shares the commitment to those services.

 

Services can, of course, only be provided if sufficient funds are available.

The “Sustainability Impact Assessment” (SIA) process proposed by Paul Reid (CEO of the HSE) and Robert Watt (Secretary General of the Department of Health) provides the opportunity to develop, with the HSE, a funding model for the future that ensures adequate funding for an “exemplary” model of service.

Meanwhile the HSE has provided assurances that the required funds will be available to enable us to deliver the services while the SIA process is in progress.

 

The amount entrusted to us by the State and by donors is very substantial, and imposes a great responsibility to ensure that, while providing services to the desired standards, our funders can be assured that we are diligent in the management of those funds. The SIA process provides the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to diligent use of funds.

 

Finally, on behalf of the Group Board, I would like to acknowledge the tremendous response across the Group to the challenges of the Covid-19 Pandemic. ..That positive response was evident across all of the companies in the Saint John of God Organisation, and in our schools, and was demonstrated by front line and by administration and support colleagues. Many thanks to all - I believe you have reason to be proud.

  

Sincerely

 

Conor McCarthy

Group CEO