Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
550. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he has reviewed the letter from a person (details supplied) sent to him on 4 June 2020; his views on the matters raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12566/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister has reviewed the letter from Mr Peter Hughes sent on 4 June 2020, and the following outlines the position.
The national mental health policy, A Vision for Change,ended its ten-year term in 2016, having been the cornerstone of mental health policy in Ireland since its publication in 2006. The Department of Health led the review of this policy, with a view to the development of a successor document which would continue the process of modernising mental health services and effectively promoting mental health.
The terms of reference for the refresh did not assume the need for a whole new policy document or a complete examination of policy from first principles, but rather to build on the good foundations of A Vision for Change, particularly given that many of its principles remained valid in terms of good practice, and simply required updating and extending to reflect the best of current thinking and evolving practices in the sector. PNA staff would have offered vital input into this original A Vision for Change consultation process.
The Oversight Group consisted of volunteers, many of whom had full time responsibilities in their own organisations. The Oversight Group agreed to engage in a national public consultation process where over 1,200 participants including service users, family members, carers, peer workers, clinical staff, HSE management and the NGO sector who would offer input. This way of collecting feedback was considered the most efficient method of gathering data from most people. The stakeholder meetings were open to all, including staff affiliated with the PNA.
The Oversight Group collected information from submissions, including a submission from the PNA, to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Healthcare in Ireland and incorporated relevant recommendations into the refreshed policy.
In addition, the chair of the Oversight Group, Mr Hugh Kane, met with members of the PNA and input its views to the work of the Oversight Group in developing the policy. All input received during the consultation on the policy, and any other stakeholder views, will be taken into account in establishing the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) which will oversee implementation of the policy.
As regards the implementation of the new national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision – A National Mental Health Policy for Everyone, the policy proposes that a National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) be established to oversee implementation of the policy recommendations. The Committee will be mandated to drive reconfiguration, monitor progress against outcomes and deliver on the commitments made in this policy. It is expected that the Committee will work with partners to evaluate performance against the key performance indicators, check overall progress guided by research and learning from best practice, and gather information on examples of both good and bad practice. It is only when these mechanisms are in place that the system will be in a position to respond effectively to support the mental health needs of the whole population.
It is envisaged that the NIMC will be fully representative of those stakeholders principally involved in ensuring effective delivery of the policy recommendations, including strong service user, service provider and voluntary sector representation. All input received during the consultation on the policy, and any other stakeholder views, will be taken into account in establishing the NIMC. The NIMC will meet regularly and will publish progress reports on the implementation status of Sharing the Vision.
