Opposition spokesman for health Claudio Grech this morning criticised the decision to terminate the job of former Mount Carmel CEO Dolores Gauci, saying that this was a mistake.

He urged the government to reconsider its position and said it was a pity that a person of such calibre and experience, who had also served as CEO of the Richmond Foundation, had been sidelined.

Last September,  Ms Gauci was removed as Mount Carmel CEO and replaced by lawyer Clifton Grech. Mr Grech said that, unlike Dr Grech, Ms Gauci had been appointed following a call and the selection had been made by a panel of experts.

Mr Grech criticised the manner in which Ms Gauci was informed of the decision to terminate her contract, saying that she only learnt about it a day before her probation period expired.

Mr Grech made his appeal at the end of a meeting with Mental Health Commissioner John Cachia. He asked the commissioner to look into the matter. The commissioner said that he would follow up his complaint.

The PN spokesman also criticised the government's decision to separate community services from those in psychiatric institutions saying that this was not in line with the Mental Health Act which was based on a holistic approach.

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