Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
851. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the format of the nationwide compliance and proscribing audit of CAMHS teams; the timeframe for completion of the audit; if this audit will include the inspection of case files; if staff and parents will be consulted as part of the audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18151/22]
View answerAt my request and as an additional action beyond the recommendations of the Maskey Report, there will be an independently led prescribing audit for each of the CAMHS teams. This will include a review of prescribing for all diagnoses and medications and will be based on an audit of case files. This has been agreed following discussions with the HSE. I have asked the HSE to complete the audit as soon as possible and I have asked them for an implementation plan.
Alongside this, the HSE will expedite the development of clinical standards for prescribing practice in children with and without psychosis. Once these standards have been developed and implemented, an annual audit will be carried out to measure compliance against these standards (in line with recommendations in the Maskey Report).
One of Dr Maskey’s recommendations is that children and their families should be invited to be part of the governance structure of the CAMHS service. HSE are working to implement that recommendation and would also welcome the opportunity to meet with a representative group in the near future. HSE have reached out to the new representative group with a view to meeting them at an early date. Separately, the HSE is commissioning qualitative research to identify the experiences of children, young people and their families using CAMHS nationwide.
This is on top of the audit of compliance with CAMHS operating guidelines and the separate and independent review being conducted by the Mental Health Commission.
I met with representatives of the Kerry CAMHS Family Support Group at the beginning of March. The HSE will continue to meet as appropriate families or representatives at local level to keep them informed of developments. I will continue to liaise closely with the HSE to ensure that the above initiatives are progressed as quickly as possible.
