Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 April 2007
154 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps that have been taken to establish a National Mental Health Service Directorate within the Health Service Executive, as outlined in the mental health policy A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13172/07]
View answerThe Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change", which was launched in January 2006, provides a framework for action to develop modern, high quality mental health services for a seven to ten year period. The Government has accepted the Report as the basis for the future development of our mental health services.
Implementation of the individual recommendations of "A Vision for Change", is a matter primarily for the HSE. In July 2006, the HSE established an implementation group to ensure that mental health services develop in a synchronised and consistent manner across the country and resource service managers and clinicians in making the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" a reality.
The HSE has informed my Department that it is currently examining how best to give effect to the recommendation contained in "A Vision for Change" to establish a National Mental Health Service Directorate. Proposals are being developed which will take account of the HSE's existing management structures and the existence of the Expert Advisory Group on Mental Health.
155 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to ensure that feedback from mental health service users on the effectiveness of services is taken into account in the implementation of the mental health policy A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13173/07]
View answerThe Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change", which was launched in January 2006, provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health services for a seven to ten year period. "A Vision for Change" recommends that a National Service User Executive be established to inform the HSE, the Mental Health Commission, inter alia, on issues relating to service user involvement and participation in planning, delivering, evaluating and monitoring services. The interim National Service User Executive (iNSUE) was established on 31 January 2007.
The Health Service Executive proposes to replace the interim NSUE with a substantive NSUE before the end of this year. The interim group will design the structure and format, constitution and standing orders and set out a programme of work.
In July 2006, the Health Service Executive established "A Vision for Change" implementation group to ensure that mental health services develop in a synchronised and consistent manner across the country and to resource service managers and clinicians in making the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" a reality. There are two service user and carer organisation representatives on the implementation group.
156 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the efforts being led by her Department in adopting an interdepartmental approach to the delivery of the targets outlined in the mental health policy entitled A Vision for Change; when such a plan will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13174/07]
View answerThe Government is committed to the full implementation of "A Vision for Change" and has accepted the Report as the basis for the future development of our mental health services.
In March 2006, I appointed an independent monitoring group to monitor progress on the implementation of the recommendations of "A Vision for Change". The group will monitor and assess progress on the implementation of all the recommendations including those which fall under the responsibility of the HSE, government departments and other relevant agencies. The group is to submit its first annual report before mid 2007.
My Department has been in contact with other government departments in relation to the implementation of the recommendations which fall under their responsibility and will report to the independent monitoring group.
