James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Why did the percentages spent on mental health decrease so much relatively? Was money directed elsewhere when the Victorian institutions were shut down? Did expenditure not keep pace with the population? I know why funding decreased but I want to know what happened operationally. Where did the percentage of moneys go?

I would like to hear the views of the delegation on cross referral, especially by allied health professionals. Nurses today hold honours degrees and very often they have masters and PhDs. Public health nurses work out in the community and can spot something in a person they see regularly. At the moment all referrals must be made by GPs. I would like to hear the views of the delegation on allied health professionals referring a person for help and support.

I wish to ask about the witnesses' experience. By the time people with mental health issues present at emergency departments, they often have physical problems, for example, they may have attempted to take their own lives. The physical issues need to be treated as much as the mental health ones. These people are often known to the system, but the system is shut down except between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Should 24-7 services be prioritised in emergency departments or in the community systems of which these people avail? Is there a moment before they get to that stage at which they might access supports but those supports are not there? This is a question on priorities, although we would ideally want both.