Tuesday, 23 Jul 2019

Written Answers Nos. 1680-1704

Suicide Incidence

Questions (1680)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1680. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age that died by suicide in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33754/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Counselling Services Provision

Questions (1681)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1681. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the details of the telehealth pilot sites for mental health services. [33756/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The information is as follows:

Telecounselling Pilots

The HSE, working in close collaboration Turn2Me.org, is currently undertaking two pilot projects exploring the potential to develop the use of online counselling.  All counselling sessions are conducted on a secure encrypted cloud-based platform, and can be conducted through video, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone calls, or through synchronous (instant) text messaging. 

Pilot 1: GP Referral commenced in November 2018 with service users in the South Wicklow area offered the opportunity to avail of free online counselling at a location of their choice. Uptake has been low initially.  In response to this, a GP recruitment event took place in collaboration with the Irish College of General Practitioners in May 2019.  From this, 67 GP practices expressed interest in participating in a phase II of this pilot which will commence later in June 2019 and run until end 2019.

Pilot 2: CIPC Waiting List Alleviation commenced in February 2019 wherein service users in Galway/Mayo region (CHO2) currently on the waiting list for Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) services were contacted and offered the opportunity to avail of free online counselling to address mild to moderate mental health difficulties.  This pilot was extended to the Cork/Kerry region (CHO4), however, resource limitations have limited engagement.  Turn2Me are due to submit a report on work to date at end of June, however, early indications suggest greater uptake by those closer to point of referral.

Telepsychiatry Pilots

Four telepsychiatry pilots are now being undertaken in collaboration with videoDoc.  These pilots encompass the conducting of remote psychiatric consultations to address the following:

(1) Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service waiting lists in Wexford/Waterford region (CHO 5).

(2) Demand for specialist adolescent addiction and substance abuse service (nationwide).

(3) Adult mental health service demands within Galway/Mayo region (CHO 2).

(4) Demand for services for child and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in Kerry/Cork region (CHO 4).

 This work formally commenced in February 2019.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (1682, 1683)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1682. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists and assistant psychologists employed by the HSE to provide free counselling services in each of the years since 2016; and the cost by year and CHO. [33785/19]

Pat Buckley

Question:

1683. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of additional psychologist and assistant psychologist positions for free counselling services provided for in budget 2019; and the number of posts filled to date. [33786/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1682 and 1683 together.

As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (1684)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1684. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of progression towards a seven day week in all community mental health services; the remaining obstacles to the goal; the outstanding costs which have been identified; and the timeline for delivery of same. [33788/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (1685)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1685. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of progression towards a 24/7 community mental health service; the remaining obstacles to the goal; the outstanding costs which have been identified; and the timeline for delivery of same. [33789/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1686)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1686. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of establishing a dedicated advocacy service for mental health service users; and the base establishment costs and expected annual budget supports for same. [33790/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1687)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1687. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS beds operational as of July 2019. [33791/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Questions (1688)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1688. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of overtime and agency staff for mental health nursing roles in Cork north Lee, Cork south Lee and north Cork areas, respectively, in the past 12 months; and the cost in 2016 and 2017. [33792/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Questions (1689)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1689. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of overtime and agency staff for mental health nursing roles by CHO in the past 12 months; and the cost in 2016 and 2017 for these areas. [33793/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1690)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1690. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals accepted by the community CAMHS teams during the first six months of 2019, by local health office area; and the equivalent figures for 2018, in tabular form. [33794/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1691)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1691. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the expansion of rehabilitation services to respond to the needs of those with enduring mental illness and challenging behaviour; the location of the additional services; the number of additional staff employed in whole-time equivalent terms; the number of service users in receipt of such services; and the way in which this compares to 2018. [33795/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1692)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1692. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the model of care for specialist perinatal mental health services; and the number of additional staff in whole-time equivalent terms appointed to date in 2019. [33796/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1693)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1693. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the way in which he has provided increased access to talk therapies to date in 2019; the number of additional service users availing of the therapies; and the number of persons availing of talk therapies in each CHO area. [33797/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (1694)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1694. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of additional enhanced peer support workers delivered to date in 2019 in line with the A Vision for Change recommendations. [33798/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1695)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1695. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of efforts to develop a seven days a week service for CAMHS; the number of CAMHS teams operating on such a basis; the CHOs in which they are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33799/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (1696)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1696. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of additional CAMHS clinical staff in whole-time equivalent terms recruited to date in 2019, by CHO; and the number of CAMHS staff in whole-time equivalent terms that left the service over the same period by CHO. [33800/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Questions (1697)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1697. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of positions in whole-time equivalent terms for children’s mental health intellectual disability teams being advertised for recruitment by CHO. [33801/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Administration

Questions (1698)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1698. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the CAMHS advocacy model; and the CHOs in which it is available and utilised. [33802/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Care Infrastructure Provision

Questions (1699)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1699. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the roll-out of the agreed minor capital fund to enhance mental health facilities and infrastructure; the projects undertaken in 2019, by location; and the funding allocated to each in 2019. [33803/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare facilities and infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1700)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1700. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a counselling appointment in primary care at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [33804/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1701)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1701. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a child and adolescent mental health services appointment at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [33805/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1702)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1702. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a psychology appointment in primary care at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [33806/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (1703)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1703. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health units between 1 January and 30 June 2019. [33807/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Beds Data

Questions (1704)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1704. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health beds available in each LHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33808/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.