Committee on the Future of Mental Healthcare publishes Interim Report

The Interim Report makes the following findings and recommendations:

• In view of the fact that there is a simultaneous review being conducted by the Oversight Body established by the Department of Health, the Committee is of the view that it is important that it see the Oversight Body’s work plan to ensure that the Committee can complement the work of the body and avoid a duplication of effort.  The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People gave a commitment to the Committee that he would request the Body to furnish a copy of the plan to the Committee as soon as it is available.  The Committee is still awaiting a copy of the work plan.
• The Joint Committee held a meeting with Officials of the HSE on 22 November in relation to funding and budgeting of Mental Health Services.  The Committee expressed deep concern at the fact that the HSE were not in a position to provide detailed financial analysis on how the mental health funding is being spent under each of the speciality areas. The Committee urges that proper systems are put in place without further delay in order for this information to be available.
• During the course of its work to date the Committee has already formed the view that a permanent Oireachtas Mental Health Committee is required and recommends that one be established.

Committee Chair, Senator Joan Freeman, said today, “Over the coming months, the Committee will engage in further detailed consideration of these issues as we move towards completion of our final report by 31 October 2017. To date, the Committee has held seven meetings – both public and private – and we have heard from a variety of interested representative bodies.”

“While we continue our deliberations, it is clear at this stage that there are some significant areas of consensus. The Committee is in agreement that accountability of expenditure, the gaps in primary care and recruitment issues (especially the retention of skilled personnel) will form the three pillars of our final report. All of our meetings to date have reinforced the belief that these three areas absolutely must underpin the provision of a solid mental healthcare policy in Ireland. Our final report will be evidence-based and we will use the presentations and documentation received during our hearings to help us prepare a report that achieve cross-party consensus.”

Read the report here