Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2013
59. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason the Expert Group set up to monitor the implementation of A Vision for Change has been disbanded; which of its sixth and final report recommendations, if any, have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7463/13]
View answer100. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if the expert group monitoring a Vision for Change is still active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7508/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 100 together.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change (AVFC) which ceased its three year term in June 2012. This Group was appointed to oversee implementation of the Report. AVFC contained a commitment that it would be reviewed after seven years and we have now reached that 7-year anniversary. The current priority, however, is to review the Mental Health Act 2001 after which urgent consideration will be given to reviewing AVFC and establishing independent monitoring arrangements. I expect that the review of the Act will be completed and presented to me in quarter two of this year. In the interim, the HSE continues to implement AVFC with substantial additional funding provided in 2012 and 2013, and reports on this on a monthly basis, through the HSE National Service Plan.
The recommendations of the Independent Monitoring Group are consistent with the recommendations in A Vision for Change, our National Strategy for mental health. Implementation of the Strategy and the reform of our mental health services is a priority for this Government. However, implementation has been slower than originally expected as it has been delayed by a number of factors including the changed economic context, constraints in public spending and the moratorium on recruitment. It is expected that the appointment of a Director for Mental Health, which was advertised recently by the HSE, will greatly accelerate the pace of implementation.
Nonetheless, a great deal of progress has been made with the accelerated closure of old psychiatric hospitals and their replacement with bespoke new facilities, better suited to modern mental health care. Progress also includes shorter episodes of in-patient care and the involvement of service users in all aspects of mental health policy, service planning and delivery. In addition, Clinical Care Programmes for the treatment and care of patients with Eating Disorders, Early Intervention in Psychosis and the Management of Self Harm Presentations to Emergency Departments are being progressed by the HSE. The clinical care programme plan will provide service models that implement AVFC. Core to the overall plans will be the principles of recovery, individualised care delivered in partnership with voluntary agencies and based on early intervention and evidence based practice.
A modern mental health service is best delivered in the community and in 2012 a special allocation of €35m was provided primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both adult and children’s mental health services, to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention, to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems and to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities.
Budgetary pressures within the HSE delayed the full utilisation of this funding, but this sum is now available to mental health services along with an additional €35m allocated in Budget 2013 for the continued development of mental health services across a range of headings, including the further ongoing development of community services. This represents a total of €70m additional revenue to modernise and reform our mental health services in 2013. Over 850 new mental health professionals are being employed to strengthen these services.
