Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2024
215. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the plans to introduce a new complaints process for CAMHS in view of concerns with the current procedure (details supplied); if this will be provided for in the new Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11007/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced by Deputies Ward and Cullinane and seeks to amend section 33 of the existing Mental Health Act 2001 to provide two additional functions to the Commission. The 2023 Bill, as written, does not include any provisions in relation to complaints mechanisms for people accessing mental health services, nor does it seem to provide for its stated goal of extending the Mental Health Commission's regulatory powers to include all community mental health services.
The Government proposed a 9-month timed amendment to the Bill, which was approved by Dáil Eireann, to allow for issues contained in the Bill to be further examined, in consultation with Deputies Ward and Cullinane.
A Government Mental Health Bill is currently in its final months of drafting. The Bill will introduce a comprehensive, legally robust regulatory framework for all community mental health services, including CAMHS, similar to the existing regulation of inpatient mental health services.
Under the existing Mental Health Act and the 2006 Approved Centre Regulations made thereunder, all approved centres (i.e., inpatient services) must have a clear complaints process that people accessing services can avail of. The Government Mental Health Bill will extend the requirement that all mental health services ensure that there is a complaints system in place, either inpatient or community.
In line with the 2006 Regulations, each approved centre must have a complaints procedure in place, such as the HSE’s ‘Your Service, Your Say’ service, the same as general health services. I further note that 'Your Service, Your Say' is available to anyone accessing HSE mental health services, be that on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Following the investigation of the complaint by the HSE, an individual may request an internal review to be carried out by the HSE, if they are not happy with the outcome. Furthermore, in cases where the complainant is not satisfied with the response to their complaint, they can request an external review from the Office of the Ombudsman, or in the case of child and adolescent services, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. This option is available to anyone who accesses our public health services, be it mental health services or otherwise.
The Programme for Government commits to improving all aspects of Youth Mental Health, including CAMHS, in line with Sharing the Vision, our national mental health policy and with Connecting for Life, our national strategy to reduce suicide. Budget 2024 provided record funding of over €1.3 billion for Mental Health this year, including for enhanced mental health supports to those under age 18. This will be reflected also in the HSE Service Plan 2024.
The HSE is a key stakeholder in the implementation of the recommendations of Sharing the Vision and sits on the National Implementation Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the 100 policy recommendations. Good progress is being made on the detailed Implementation Plan 2022 – 2024, overseen by the Committee. HSE National Mental Health Services is committed to further developing an advocacy service that will ensure service users are empowered to lead in their own care. Currently, advocacy services are available to all HSE adult inpatient acute units provided by ‘Peer Advocacy in Mental Health’ (formerly known as the Irish Advocacy Network). While the need for independent advocacy services across CAMHS has been acknowledged for some time, the Maskey review has highlighted the need for improved independent advocacy services to both community teams and inpatient settings nationally.
In conjunction with the HSE, the Youth Advocacy Programme (YAP) provide advocacy in CAMHS services in Galway (inpatient and community), at the Linn Dara in-patient unit in Dublin and in Cork/Kerry (inpatient and community services from January 2023). Advocacy recently commenced in the remaining CAMHS inpatient unit in North Dublin. Discussions are underway to further expand Advocacy services to CAMHS Community services in 2024 and beyond.
Drafting of the Government Mental Health Bill has been prioritised and it is now in its final month of drafting. I look forward to introducing to the Oireachtas shortly.
