Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations which informed me a bit more.

Going back to the IT debacle, the national children's hospital is due to open in Rialto. At its core, it will have IT. Another submission from the hospital would be important. That will be the benchmark for the future and will not involve retrofitting.

I cannot believe there is not a WhatsApp group, for example, or other simple method to keep people in contact with each other.

The queues for outpatient departments in mental health services are heart-breaking. We need to shift that fundamentally back to where people belong to and their local areas. Most people, particularly younger people, when faced with an enormous queue will walk out and not avail of the services. The €1 billion spent on medication and medicating policies are issues which we need to talk about at this committee. I find them dubious at times but certainly up-ended.

The common problems being drawn into specialised services which are adding to the waiting lists were brought up. We are dealing with well-being and the majority of people. It is not mental ill-health such as psychosis or an enduring mental health issue. We need to turn primary care centres and GP practices into well-being hubs which will involve early intervention. We are trying to do away with stigma but well-being is a much more acceptable word for everybody from the four-year old child to the elderly person. We need to take this on board because the majority services are required for people in crisis. We all go through crisis but do not have to be labelled mentally ill as a result. We just need to strengthen our resolve and get supports to allow ourselves come to solutions to get back on track.