The 2010 annual report by an independent monitoring group, “A Vision for Change strategy”, has claimed that lack of financial resources has affected the reforms in the mental health services. The reforms in the mental health industry are making slow progress due to lack of funds and ban on hiring. The report has also found that the mental health services are suffering disproportionate losses as compared to other parts of the health service.

The mental health industry is also facing lack of staff. The report has found that about 1, 000 registered psychiatric nurses retired during 2009 and 2010 and further 1,100 will be eligible to retire by 2012. The report has recommended the health authorities to recruit more psychiatric nurses.

The shortage of mental health teams or specialist mental health services has affected the patients care badly.

The report has pointed out on lack of dedicated corporate leadership in the mental health service. The report has claimed that there is an urgent need for a full directorate of mental healthcare services with the director reporting directly to the chief executive of the Health Service Executive.