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Mental Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021

Thursday, 1 July 2021

Questions (476, 480)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

476. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the Minister expects to update the mental health services in line with modern requirements having particular regard to ongoing commentary highlighting deficiencies in the services; the steps he plans to take in early date to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29223/21]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

480. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when it is expected that the standard, quality and accessibility to mental health services is likely to be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29227/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 480 together.

All aspects of mental health services are being improved and developed, through implementation of Sharing the Vision in the short to longer term and the HSE National Service Plan 2021.

Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.

A whole-of-government National Implementation Monitoring Committee (NIMC) was established in December 2020 to oversee the implementation of the recommendations in the Policy and to monitor progress. The NIMC is made up of the NIMC Steering Committee, which will be supported by an NIMC Reference Group of Service Users and Families and NIMC Specialist Groups.

The NIMC Steering Committee, independently chaired by Mr John Saunders, is driving the implementation of Sharing the Vision, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and oversight processes are put in place. To date, the NIMC Steering Committee has held six monthly business meetings. The next business meeting is scheduled for 9 July 2021. The approved minutes of Steering Committee meetings are available on the Department of Health website. In March, the Steering Committee met over two days, on 11 and 12 March 2021, in order for the Committee to develop an enhanced understanding of its role and function.

In these early stages, the Steering Committee is focusing on developing and establishing the structures and processes crucial to a full and successful implementation of the new Policy.

The Steering Committee is seeking to progress the formation of Specialist Groups for specific areas of work. The Steering Committee has prioritised the following areas for development, some of which may be addressed through specialist group structures as appropriate:

- Women’s mental Health

- Child and youth mental health or CAMHS, including transitioning from CAMHS to adult mental health services

- Acute Inpatient (Approved Centre) bed provision

- Priority Groups (Travellers, Direct Provision/refugees)

- Workforce Planning

Approaches to these priority areas are currently being explored and developed, in order to enable the NIMC Steering Committee to proceed with the formation of Specialist Groups in a structured and strategic manner.

Additionally, the Steering Committee is seeking to progress the establishment of the Reference Group of Service Users and Families. To this end, a subgroup of NIMC Steering Committee members was established to develop an approach, with a draft proposal currently in revision stage.

The HSE has primary responsibility for the implementation of the majority of the Sharing the Vision recommendations. To that end, the HSE Implementation Group (HIG), which will report to the NIMC Steering Committee, has been established and held its first meeting in May 2021. One of the first tasks of the HSE Implementation Group, will be to ascertain ongoing Sharing the Vision aligned tasks and projects, in order to produce a three-year implementation plan.

An implementation monitoring approach to the non-HSE Sharing the Vision recommendations is currently being progressed by the NIMC Secretariat on behalf of the Steering Committee, through interdepartmental and intradepartmental engagement. There is work ongoing across Government that aligns to the recommendations of Sharing the Vision.

I am satisfied that the Committee is progressing well in this initial stage of its work, by building on the following initiatives already underway:

- Many significant recent developments in online mental health service provision and positive mental health promotion have been expedited in response to the ongoing pandemic. These initiatives exemplify the holistic, whole-of-population approach to mental health service development that Sharing the Vision will be promoting and seeking to advance, in parallel with the development of specialist supports.

- Sharing the Vision recommends the continued phased implementation and evaluation of existing national clinical programmes in mental health, including Dual Diagnosis, Early Intervention in Psychosis, and Eating Disorders. The clinical programmes, which are in various stages of design and implementation, are at the heart of service improvement.

- Sharing the Vision additionally recommends that, in keeping with the evolving understanding of human rights to empower people and improve quality of care in mental healthcare facilities, legislation must be updated and additional supports put in place. This is currently being addressed in the review of the Mental Health Act, 2001, which is undergoing a major overhaul, with draft heads of a new bill expected to be brought to Government for approval before the summer recess and to be published very shortly thereafter.

I am pleased to have secured an additional €50 million for mental health services in 2021, bringing the annual budget to in excess of €1.1 billion. €23 million of this additional funding is dedicated to commencing implementation of many of the short-term recommendations of Sharing the Vision, including enhanced resources for community mental health teams, CAMHS hubs/teams, adult crisis resolution services, increased supports in employment, peer support workers, bereavement co-ordination, and dialectical behaviour therapy. Work is progressing in these areas, including the recruitment of the 153 new mental health staff this year.

The HSE is committed to improving its infrastructure, including new or improved community-based facilities and services for people with more severe and enduring mental health difficulties. Of the additional funding provided in 2021, €7m will fund reconfiguration of mental health facilities, in line with Mental Health Commission Covid risk assessment recommendations. This, plus the recurring €6m in new development funding, means there is €13 million for minor works and refurbishments in 2021.

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