HSE chief executive Paul Reid said an independent authorised person was being appointed to investigate a protected disclosure made by the whistleblower, Dr Ankur Sharma. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
An independent expert is to be appointed to investigate claims by the whistleblower who exposed the south Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) scandal that he was sidelined within the HSE after his revelations.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said an independent authorised person was being appointed to investigate a protected disclosure made by the whistleblower, Dr Ankur Sharma.
In January, a report found 240 children in South Kerry Camhs had received substandard care, and 46 had suffered significant harm. Dr Sharma had raised concerns about their treatment immediately on starting to work in the service in 2020.
During an appearance before the Dáil public accounts committee on Thursday, Mr Reid declined to answer questions about Dr Sharma’s claims that he was told to take time off and then placed on administrative duties after he revealed the substandard care being given to children in south Kerry.
Mr Reid told Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster that he had to respect the protected disclosure process and that the HSE was engaging with Dr Sharma about how this would proceed.
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