Written Answers Nos. 511-522
511. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will address the lack of availability of dental services for children with additional needs outside of Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50678/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
512. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) by the HSE’s CHO9 social inclusion/addiction services for each year from 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [50681/23]
View answerAs this PQ refers to a service issue, I have sent to the HSE for direct reply. However, as the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
513. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has carried out any audits or reviews in relation to funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) by the HSE’s CHO9 social inclusion/addiction services since 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50682/23]
View answerAs this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response.
514. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure autistic children can access services under CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50696/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to better support the needs of autistic people in Ireland.
Treatment for autistic children falls under the remit of Disability Services. The specialist HSE Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS) can provide input and support if there are assessed mental health difficulties associated with the child’s diagnosis of autism. CAMHS can only accept children or adolescents where there is evidence of a moderate to severe mental difficulty present.
The list below gives some guidance on what constitutes a moderate to severe mental difficulty, but this is not exhaustive. It is also important to note that not all children and adolescents will fit neatly into a diagnostic category:
• Moderate to severe Anxiety disorders
• Moderate to severe Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
• Moderate to severe Depression
• Bipolar Affective Disorder
• Psychosis
• Moderate to severe Eating Disorder
• Suicidal ideation in the context of a mental health difficulty
When deciding if a child or adolescent needs to attend CAMHS, a number of factors are considered by the CAMHS team. These include consideration of the child or adolescent’s clinical presentation, their level of social and family support and the availability of resources and treatment options at primary care level or within community networks. It is the role of the multidisciplinary CAMHS team to decide if the child or adolescent reaches the threshold for community CAMHS, i.e. whether their mental health difficulty is moderate to severe.
Mental health difficulties are often described on a continuum of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. A number of factors are taken into account when defining whether someone has a moderate to severe mental difficulty. These include the diagnosis, formulation, the duration of the symptoms and level of functioning in daily living.
Access to CAMHS for autistic children is also specified in the HSE CAMHS Clinical Operational Guideline (COG), which was published in 2019 and sets out the core functions and remit of CAMHS. As such, any child with a moderate to severe mental health need, who also has a diagnosis of autism, can access CAMHS for appropriate multidisciplinary mental health assessment and treatment. This may involve joint working or shared care with other agencies, including HSE Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams and other agencies, including NGOs funded by the HSE, to support children and adolescents.
Recommendation 20 of Sharing the Vision, Ireland's National Mental Health Policy , highlights the need for further development of early intervention and assessment services in the primary care sector for children with autism to include comprehensive multi-disciplinary and paediatric assessment and mental health consultation with the relevant community mental health team where necessary. This policy recommendation has been developed specifically to ensure that services are aligned so that children and their families can access the most appropriate care and supports, from the correct care providers, as soon as possible. The implementation of this recommendation is in progress, with the piloting of an autism assessment and intervention protocol now complete.
The Autism Innovation Strategy which is also currently being developed, will provide for a more holistic and agile approach to effectively respond to our evolving understanding of autism and the wider policy context. The HSE is also working to bring about further improvements for people presenting with or living with autism. Following the commissioning and publication of the Review of the Irish Health Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the HSE commenced the implementation of a Service Improvement Programme for the Autistic Community based on the recommendations of the Review. A National Autism Programme Board was then established with responsibility for leading the implementation of the Review's recommendations.
In the context of the above, there are no plans for CAMHS services to take on autistic children where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health difficulty present, as the diagnosis and treatment of autism remains the remit of HSE Primary Care and Children’s Disability Network Teams.
515. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to ensure that access to the CAMHS Hubs pilot for autistic children is on par with those who are neurotypical; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50697/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to better support the needs of neurodivergent people in Ireland.
Treatment for autistic children falls under the remit of Disability Services. The specialist HSE Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS) can provide input and support if there are assessed mental health difficulties associated with the child’s diagnosis of autism. CAMHS can only accept children or adolescents where there is evidence of a moderate to severe mental difficulty present, including access to CAMHS Hubs as appropriate in individual cases.
The list below gives some guidance on what constitutes a moderate to severe mental difficulty, but this is not exhaustive. It is also important to note that not all children and adolescents will fit neatly into a diagnostic category:
• Moderate to severe Anxiety disorders
• Moderate to severe Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
• Moderate to severe Depression
• Bipolar Affective Disorder
• Psychosis
• Moderate to severe Eating Disorder
• Suicidal ideation in the context of a mental disorder
The Model of Care for CAMHS Hubs, formally launched by Minister Butler in September 2023, details how CAMHS Hubs in Ireland should be organised and integrated across health and community services. A CAMHS Hub provides enhanced intensive brief mental health interventions to support Community CAMHS Teams in delivering enhanced responses to children, young people and their families or carers, in times of acute mental health crisis.
Support from these Hubs is time-limited, providing intensive intervention and support with sufficient flexibility to respond to different young people’s or parent or carer needs. The service is child and young person-centred, recovery focused and trauma informed.
The Model of Care for CAMHS Hubs was developed in alignment with recommendations in Sharing the Vision. It arose from the recognition that those experiencing mental health crisis need specialist services to provide brief intensive supports in a timely way to assist the individual service user in their recovery journey.
The Model of Care will be tested and piloted across five pilot learning sites in CHO 2, CHO 3, CHO 4, CHO 6 and CHO 8. There will be an independent evaluation of the pilot implementation of these services in line with the Standard Operating Procedures and the Model of Care. This evaluation will inform plans to develop CAMHS Hubs in the future.
When deciding if a child or adolescent needs to attend CAMHS, a number of factors are considered by the CAMHS Team. These include consideration of the child or adolescent’s clinical presentation, their level of social and family support and the availability of resources and treatment options at primary care level or within community networks. It is the role of the multidisciplinary CAMHS team to decide if the child or adolescent reaches the threshold for community CAMHS, i.e. whether their mental health difficulty is moderate to severe.
As is the case with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services more broadly, there are no plans for CAMHS Hubs to take on autistic children where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health difficulty present.
Mental health difficulties are often described on a continuum of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. A number of factors are taken into account when defining whether someone has a moderate to severe mental health difficulty. These include the diagnosis, formulation, the duration of the symptoms and level of functioning in daily living.
Access to CAMHS for autistic children is also specified in the HSE Clinical Operational Guideline (COG), which was published in 2019 and sets out the core functions and remit of CAMHS. As such, any child with a moderate to severe mental health need, who also has a diagnosis of autism, can access CAMHS for appropriate multidisciplinary mental health assessment and treatment. This may involve joint working or shared care with other agencies, including NGOs funded by the HSE, to support children and adolescents.
Recommendation 20 of Sharing the Vision , highlights the need for further development of early intervention and assessment services in the primary care sector for children with autism to include comprehensive multi-disciplinary and paediatric assessment and mental health consultation with the relevant community mental health team where necessary. This policy recommendation has been developed specifically to ensure that services are aligned so that children and their families can access the most appropriate care and supports, from the correct care providers, as soon as possible. The implementation of this recommendation is in progress with the piloting of an autism assessment and intervention protocol now complete.
The Autism Innovation Strategy which is also currently being developed, will provide for a more holistic and agile approach which can effectively respond to our evolving understanding of autism and the wider policy context. The HSE is also working to bring about further improvements for people presenting with or living with autism. Following the commissioning and publication of the Review of the Irish Health Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the HSE commenced the implementation of a Service Improvement Programme for the Autistic Community based on the recommendations of the Review. A National Autism Programme Board was then established with responsibility for leading the implementation of the Review's recommendations.
In the context of the above, there are no plans for CAMHS services to take on autistic children where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health difficulty present, as the diagnosis and treatment of autism remains the remit of HSE Primary Care and Children’s Disability Network Teams.
516. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have an occupational therapist visit her home. [50698/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
517. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will review the fair deal applications that are awaiting assessment in the CHO8 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50699/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
518. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans by the National Ambulance Service to develop a permanent ambulance base at Buncrana, County Donegal. [50705/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
519. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to expedite an appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50723/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
520. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) can expect to receive a full assessment at CAMHS north Kerry in order to assess their medical needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50740/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
521. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for a surgical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50742/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
522. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if will provide additional information on his Department’s Rare Disease Liaison Officer; if the position is vacant at present; if not, if a person has been appointed; if so, the contact details for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50753/23]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to doing everything possible to assist people living with a rare disease.
Significant progress has been achieved under the National Rare Disease Plan 2014-2018, including the establishment of the HSE National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and a National Rare Disease Office (NRDO).
A Rare Disease Policy unit has been established in my Department who liaise with the National Rare Disease Office in the HSE and relevant stakeholders.
In February I announced a strategy/plan to develop a revised National Rare Disease Plan, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. Initial work for the new strategy/plan has commenced, and a Steering Group to progress the new Strategy/Plan is expected to be convened in the coming weeks.
The voice of patients and families will be central to the development of this policy. A patient liaison officer with a special focus on rare diseases will also be considered within the HSE as part of this new strategy/plan.
The NRDO established a National Rare Disease Information Line which provides current and evidenced based information on rare conditions and signposts to available rare disease expertise in Ireland and Europe.
Patients can also seek information, advice, and support through the Patient Advocacy Service. This free and confidential service, independent of the HSE, provides information and support to people who want to make a complaint about an experience they have had in a HSE public acute hospital through the HSE’s Your Service Your Say process.
Responding effectively to comments, compliments and complaints received and learning from them is key to providing high quality customer focused services. As such, Patient Liaison Officers are located in each Hospital Group and CHO to support service users and staff in the implementation of the complaints management process.
