Written Answers Nos. 2546-2564
2546. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the major hospital building programme is progressing in line with expectations; the extent to which the national children’s hospital, the national maternity hospital and other projects of a capital nature throughout the country such as Naas General Hospital are progressing in line with the urgency of their requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38104/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to the development of the new children’s hospital (NCH), the new national maternity hospital (NMH) and other capital projects throughout the country.
All capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated Public Spending Code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.
Approval must be received for each individual stage to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable, and that sufficient funding is available to fund the project to completion, including equipping and commissioning costs.
The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to a number of key considerations, including service prioritisation, clarification of scope, determination of affordability, as well as the successful completion of the various capital project approval stages, which can impact on the timeline for delivery.
Like many other sectors of the economy, the construction sector has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and progress on capital projects under construction were delayed in 2020 and the impact of Covid-19 will continue well into 2021. In addition, the sector is challenged by Brexit and global supply chain issues.
2548. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which preparations are in hand to overhaul backlogs and waiting lists in the health system that have become seriously more evident during the Covid-19 pandemic; when visible manifestations of such proposals are likely to become evident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38106/21]
View answer2556. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the treatment purchase scheme will play a role in a reduction in the currently identified hospital waiting lists across all disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38114/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2548 and 2556 together.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.
While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant curtailment of acute hospital services, is reflected in the most recently available waiting list figures to 13th May 2021.
On 23 March 2021 the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”, outlining a three phased approach for the proposed restoration of services across Community Services, Acute Hospital Operations, Cancer Services and Screening Services. It sets target times for their safe return and details the conditions and challenges that will have to be met. However, the implementation of this plan was suspended pending the resolution of the recent ransomware attack, which had a significant impact on acute hospitals.
The HSE has been working since 14th May last to recover the effects of the cyber attack on its systems. The HSE advise that at present most systems are operational and services are returning to normal activity. There is a challenge in back entering data and there are still a number of areas of ongoing concern. The HSE was already seeking to recover from the Covid peak in the first quarter of this year and the ransomware attack has delayed this and had the effect of increasing access delays for services. My Department does not have full access to information on the impact of this ransomware attack on elective waiting lists but will provide an update as soon as one is available.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
In addition to the €30 million noted above the National Treatment Purchase Fund has a further allocation of €100 million for 2021. This funding is for the purpose of commissioning Outpatient appointments, Inpatient and Day Case procedures and Emergency Department supports.
While commissioning was impacted by the surge of COVID-19 in January of this year, and the subsequent restrictions and pressures in public hospitals, and the recent cyberattack the NTPF has been working closely with public hospitals to continue to outsource treatment for patients in private hospitals and where feasible to fund extra clinics at weekends and evenings in public hospitals to address waiting lists. In addition, there is a focus on outsourcing Outpatient appointments in 2021 and where appropriate to fund “see and treat” packages of care in a number of specialties.
My Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.
2549. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which school medical examinations have continued or will continue notwithstanding the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38107/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services.
Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
2550. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the full extent of the hospital waiting lists throughout all disciplines with particular reference to those areas with the highest numbers; his plans to address the issue in the shortest possible time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38108/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.
While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant curtailment of acute hospital services, is reflected in the most recently available waiting list figures to 13th May 2021.
On 23 March 2021 the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”, outlining a three phased approach for the proposed restoration of services across Community Services, Acute Hospital Operations, Cancer Services and Screening Services. It sets target times for their safe return and details the conditions and challenges that will have to be met. However, the implementation of this plan was suspended pending the resolution of the recent ransomware attack, which had a significant impact on acute hospitals.
The HSE has been working since 14th May last to recover the effects of the cyber attack on its systems. The HSE advise that at present most systems are operational and services are returning to normal activity. There is a challenge in back entering data and there are still a number of areas of ongoing concern. The HSE was already seeking to recover from the Covid peak in the first quarter of this year and the ransomware attack has delayed this and had the effect of increasing access delays for services. My Department does not have full access to information on the impact of this ransomware attack on elective waiting lists but will provide an update as soon as one is available.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.
Due to the ongoing IT issues triggered by the HSE cyber-attack, the NTPF has been unable to receive weekly national hospital waiting list data or downloads. The latest published waiting list information was collated by the NTPF on 13th May 2021.
The following reports, published by the NTPF on their website on 13 May last, provide a breakdown of the Inpatient/Day Case, and Outpatient Waiting Lists by specialty. This information is also available on the website of the NTPF.
2551. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which outstanding consultant posts have been filled or are likely to be filled in early date; the number of outstanding vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38109/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue and the provision of data, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
2552. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in respect of the national children’s hospital including the facilities at Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital; the extent to which the status of the projects are in line with expectation in terms of capacity and progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38110/21]
View answerThe New Children’s Hospital Project, comprising the main hospital at St James’s campus in Dublin, and two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght hospitals, is a Government priority.
A major milestone was reached in July 2019, when the Urgent Care Centre at the Connolly Hospital campus opened, providing a new model of ambulatory care for children. Since opening, there has been a 65% reduction in the waiting list for general paediatrics and it is expected that the waiting list will reduce further by the end of 2022.
From 4th January 2021 to 7th May 2021, 2,501 children presented to the Urgent Care Centre at Connolly. 96% of children are discharged home after their visit to the urgent care centre.
The value of new and modern infrastructure in the context of service delivery during a pandemic was demonstrated at “CHI at Connolly”. The building layout at the new facility supported delivery of safe services and, even when busy, allowed for seamless patient flow.
The second paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Tallaght Hospital is expected to open towards the end of 2021, following a handover and a period of operational commissioning and equipping. The opening of the second of the three new campuses, the Paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre, “CHI at Tallaght” will be another important milestone in the NCH programme and in the delivery of children’s health services.
The works at Tallaght are progressing at pace. Final internal works comprise placing the final ceiling tiles, completing the painting, commissioning, and testing of the completed mechanical and electrical services, cleaning and snagging. External works comprise finalisation of pavements and landscaping. The work on the paediatric outpatient centre at Tallaght included a significant investment in the adult hospital which involves the delivery of a new changing and administration block, a new creche, and the upgrade of roads and pavements, car park, and electrical infrastructure.
The works at Tallaght will provide further modern facilities to support primary and community paediatrics and will also support infection prevention and control and improve patient pathways.
Despite delays, and Covid-19 restrictions, significant progress is also being made on the site of the main new hospital at St James’s. ‘Topping out’, where the highest point on a building is completed, took place at the end of March 2021. The infill concrete slabs over the steelwork frame, closing in the concourse, will be complete by August 2021.
Glazing and façade works are continuing such that the distinctive shape of the building is becoming clear. It is anticipated that the majority of the building will be weathertight by the autumn. The fit out of certain internal areas has begun, with discernible rooms and areas taking shape. The primary mechanical and electrical plant, comprising boilers, combined heat and power, generators, transformers, main distribution boards, and medical gases are well progressed, with the focus now on primary and secondary distribution around the building.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has the statutory responsibility and resources to plan, design, build, furnish and equip the new children’s hospital and continues to engage with the main contractor and reviews the contractor’s programme of works on a regular basis.
Like many other sectors of the economy, the construction sector has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and progress on the main building at St James’s campus was delayed in 2020. Notwithstanding that the site has remained open under subsequent levels of restrictions, the impact of Covid-19 will continue well into 2021. In addition, the sector is challenged by Brexit and global supply chain issues but the NPHDB and contractors are working hard to mitigate those risks.
2553. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to avail of low interest loans to facilitate the upgrading of the health services in line with the expectations set out in the Sláintecare report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38111/21]
View answerThe allocation of funding in 2022 and beyond for the implementation of the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-23 will be considered as part of the annual estimates process. The question of resources is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance.
2554. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which women’s health specifically remains central to the provision and delivery of a reliable level and quality of health services in all areas throughout the country without exception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38112/21]
View answerProgressing women’s health is a priority for this government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government and are fully committed to the development and improvement of Women’s Health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health across the whole life cycle.
There has been recent progress in the area of women’s health including:
- the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy,
- implementation of the Sexual Health Strategy,
- establishment of a National Mesh Specialist Centre,
- improvements in screening services,
- improvements to sexual assault services, introduction of termination of pregnancy services,
- the rollout of the Maternal & Newborn-Clinical Management System, and
- the development of new models of care for ambulatory gynaecology and infertility.
Underscoring the government’s commitment to Women’s Health has been the establishment of a Women’s Health Taskforce in September 2019 to improve both health outcomes and experiences of healthcare for women and girls. The members of the Taskforce meet regularly, with its twelfth meeting held earlier this month. The Women’s Health Taskforce continues to work with the National Women’s Council of Ireland and the European Institute of Women’s Health to prioritise different issues each year with the aim of improving women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare. Critical to this work is the process of listening to women - the Taskforce has so far listened to, engaged with and worked with more than 1,000 women and hundreds of organisations representing women and girls across the country.
Based on this information, the Taskforce has developed proposals to improve supports for gynaecological health, mental health, physical activity, and menopause all of which are rolling out this year and next year. Through action like this forum, we can better address women’s whole health and help ensure that action on women’s health looks beyond reproductive health to make a real difference to women’s lives. Work is ongoing to identify priorities for the year ahead, aligned to Sláintecare, and I expect to bring these to Government for approval this Autumn.
Prioritisation of women’s have is further supported through the significant investment contained within Budget 2021. This includes:
- funding of €12m to ensure a renewed impetus to the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy and the new model of maternity care, and to improve gynaecology services.
- funding of €10m to screening services including Breast Check and Cervical Check,
- and building on the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, a €5m Women’s Health Fund to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare.
In the longer-term, through Sláintecare, we will be planning services around the needs of our entire population as part of the Citizen Care Masterplan. This will involve characterising the health and social care needs of our entire population by segmenting them into groupings of similar health and social care needs and characteristics. Factors that will inform this include age, socioeconomic status, health care utilisation patterns, health status, ethnicity, and gender. The insights gained from this will form an evidence base that will inform future service planning, workforce planning, review of eligibility, and capital planning. The service needs of women will be considered as part of all this.
2555. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of additional hospital beds that are required to overhaul the currently identified hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38113/21]
View answerWaiting lists have grown to historically high levels due to the cessation of services during periods of the pandemic and more recently have been further impacted by the cyber-attack on the HSE. The numbers of people now waiting for diagnostics and treatment far exceed Sláintecare waiting time targets.
Tackling waiting lists will require a concerted, focused effort from across the Department of Health, HSE, NTPF, GPs, and other partners, including voluntary and private providers. Budget 2021 demonstrated a strong commitment by Government to the Sláintecare vision and to enhancing the permanent capacity of the health services, substantially increase the workforce, expand the scale and range of services to be provided in the community and introduce targeted measures to improve access to care and address known capacity deficits highlighted by the Health Service Capacity Review 2018.
The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023, approved by Government in May, committed to the development of a multi-annual waiting lists reduction plan. This work is well advanced, and the plan is expected to be submitted to Government for its consideration in the near future.
Subject to approval, the plan will focus on a number of pillars, including building capacity, reform of scheduled care, management and reporting waiting lists, policy reform, eHealth, performance management and communications. It aims to result in significant year on year waiting times improvement with a view to fully achieving the Sláintecare maximum wait time targets of 10 weeks for Outpatients/Assessments, 12 weeks for Inpatients/day-cases and 10 days for Diagnostics by 2026.
2557. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which children’s health issues have continued to receive appropriate attention throughout the pandemic; if particular or specific action is required to address issues arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38115/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
2558. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses currently available to the health services, including those involved directly in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic; if specific issues have arisen in respect of replacements or retirees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38116/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
2559. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it is expected to deal with waiting lists for orthodontic treatment with a view to a vast improvement in respect of access to treatment in accordance with the need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38117/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services.
Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
2560. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the speed of processing of medical cards can be increased to eliminate anxieties particularly amongst persons with a serious or life threatening illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38118/21]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) National Medical Card Unit (NMCU) has responsibility for the processing of medical card applications. A key performance indicator within the NMCU is the processing of Medical Card and GP Visit Card applications within 15 working days of receipt of a completed application. Prior to the onset of the recent cyber-attack on the HSE, 99.63% of all applications received by the NMCU were processed within a 15 working day turnaround.
However, regarding persons suffering from serious medical conditions, it should be noted that the HSE has a system in place for the provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e. in circumstances where persons are in need of urgent or on-going medical care that they cannot afford and also for persons who are terminally ill and are receiving end of life treatment (prognosis of 12 months or less). These medical cards are issued, even throughout the unprecedented challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, within 24 hours of receipt of the required medical report and a completed application form from a healthcare professional.
Furthermore, despite the temporary downtime of online medical card services as a result of the recent cyber-attack on the HSE in May this year, emergency and urgent medical card applications still continued to be processed, albeit initially by fax and later via email. This ensured that critically ill persons were not prevented from applying for a medical card despite the significant technical challenges being experienced by the HSE at that time. The National Medical Card Unit call centre also remained fully operational during the downtime and successfully assisted those with queries on applications and the eligibility process.
The HSE have now successfully restored web-enabled services and medical and GP visit card applications can once again be submitted online or alternatively by post to the National Medical Card Unit. Individuals who may have a query about their application or eligibility status should check online with the HSE or contact the National Medical Card Unit helpline, which is fully operational on 1890 252 919 for further information and assistance.
2561. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he expects to be in a position to address the serious deficiencies in child, adolescent and adult mental health services with particular reference to the need to ensure that adequate treatments placements are readily available to meet the demand which has increased in recent times; if provision will be made to offer comprehensive services to young persons with eating disorders or addictions notwithstanding current practice; if a study will be undertaken of individual cases currently seeking or availing of treatment throughout north County Kildare and south west Dublin CHO7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38119/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
2562. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it is expected to enhance the quality and scale of community and institutional mental health services with particular reference to the need to achieve quality of service in line with the requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38120/21]
View answerSharing 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.
The implementation monitoring of Sharing the Vision is being driven by the National Implementation Monitoring Committee (NIMC), which was established in December 2020. The NIMC is made up of the NIMC Steering Committee, which will be supported by a NIMC Reference Group of Service Users and Families and NIMC Specialist Groups. I am satisfied that the NIMC is developing appropriate monitoring and oversight processes and structures.
The HSE Mental Health Engagement and Recovery Office is represented on the NIMC Steering Committee, which together with the development of a NIMC Reference Group of Service Users and Families will ensure that the voice of the service user and their families and carers remains central to quality service delivery and improvement.
The €23 million allocated to the early implementation of Sharing the Vision in 2021 is dedicated to 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.
In relation to quality of service, the Quality Framework for Mental Health Services in Ireland (Mental Health Commission, 2007), the Judgement Support Framework (Mental Health Commission, 2015), and the Best Practice Guidance for Mental Health Services (HSE, 2017) all play an important role in continuous improvement and measurement/monitoring of desired standards and practices in mental healthcare in Ireland. Sharing the Vision recommends that future updates of the Quality Framework, the Judgement Support Framework and the Best Practice Guidance should be consistent with the ambition and the specific outcomes for the mental health system set out in the policy.
Moreover, Sharing the Vision recommends that a standardised set of performance indicators (PIs) directly aligned with the desired outcomes in the policy and agreed standards of care and quality frameworks should be developed by the Department of Health and the NIMC accounting for quantitative and qualitative delivery of intended outcomes.
Furthermore, 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. They provide clear pathways to ensure strategic, standardised and evidence-based delivery of services and better outcomes for service users and their families.
Under the Health Act 2004 (as amended) the Department of Health has an oversight role in relation to the HSE. The Department has been implementing new performance oversight arrangements since 2020. This includes reporting on Quality and Patient Safety for Mental Health, with a view to continual improvement of this key area in all respects.
2563. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the Sláintecare programme is being enacted; the progress to date in this regard; the targets achievable in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38121/21]
View answerThe vision of Sláintecare is to achieve a universal single-tier health and social care system, where everyone has equitable access to services based on need, and not ability to pay and to deliver safe, quality health and social care services that meet the needs of our growing population, and attracts and retains the very best healthcare clinicians, managers, and staff.
Considerable progress has been made in moving from vision to reality. The commitment to Sláintecare was reconfirmed in the Programme for Government and Budget 2021 invested in staffing and infrastructure to enhance the permanent capacity of our health services and expand the scale and range of services to be provided in the community. Major foundational decisions were made by Government, including the establishment of the HSE Board, and the approval of the geographies for six new regional health areas. There has been progress against all of the eight Sláintecare Principles from the Oireachtas Sláintecare Report, including the patient being paramount; timely, needs-based care; prevention and public health; and engagement with citizens and staff. This was done against the backdrop of COVID-19 which has challenged our healthcare systems in a manner never previously seen.
The Government has now approved a new three-year Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023. The new plan will build on the commitment and desire for innovation, demonstrated during the pandemic, and build on the unprecedented levels of investment in our health service. The Strategy will focus on two new reform programmes. Programme One: Improving Safe, Timely Access to Care and Promoting Health & Wellbeing will focus on integration, safety, prevention, shift of care to the right location, productivity, extra capacity and achieving Sláintecare waiting time targets. Programme Two: Addressing Health Inequalities will bring us on a journey towards universal healthcare. Eleven associated Projects have been developed and are aligned with key national strategies, policies and initiatives.
2564. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether a special task force might address the shortcomings in the mental health services with particular reference to the need to provide for those seeking institutional care or specific treatment not currently readily available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38122/21]
View answerAll aspects of mental health services will be improved and developed, through implementation of the national mental health policy Sharing the Vision, which 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.
This policy was developed following a process of research into international best practice, mental health service innovation and an extensive national consultation of over 1,000 service users, family members, friends and carers and other stakeholders.
The work of the Work Research Centre (Expert Evidence Review) strongly informed this process. In addition, relevant mental health recommendations in other Government policies, including Connecting for Life and the report of the Youth Mental Health Taskforce, were also considered. Additionally, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care published a final report in October 2018, which outlined various recommendations in mental health service improvements. The recommendations of this report also contributed to the development of this policy.
The implementation monitoring of Sharing the Vision is being driven by the National Implementation Monitoring Committee (NIMC) which was established in December 2020 and is independently chaired by Mr John Saunders. 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. I am satisfied that the Committee is developing appropriate monitoring and oversight processes and structures.
To date, the NIMC Steering Committee has held seven monthly business meetings, with approved minutes of Steering Committee meetings available on the Department of Health website.
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 reports to the NIMC Steering Committee, has been established and is meeting regularly, with an initial focus on Acute Inpatient Bed capacity, and CAMHS service improvement. A Specialist Group on Acute Bed Capacity (Bed Review) will be established this year under NIMC.
There are a number of recommendations in Sharing the Vision which are designed to improve access and quality of care, including the continued development of mental health clinical programmes, which are being prioritised for implementation by the NIMC and the HIG.
The Department of Health considers that the process that led to the finalisation of this policy was very comprehensive as regards research and broad stakeholder consultation. Moreover, there are comprehensive implementation monitoring and implementation structures in place or in development that will progress the change promised by Sharing the Vision as areas of mental health service provision.
Therefore, the Department of Health believes that a special taskforce on mental health services is not warranted at this stage. The focus of this Department with the HSE is on progressing whole-of-sector improvements through the implementation of Sharing the Vision and continuing to support the work of the NIMC.
