Ms Rosemary Smyth:

That brings us back to the point raised by us and the representatives of Mental Health Reform. I refer to the governance of and accountability for the service. We cannot see it happening and would like to see the issue being addressed so as to rule out the possibility detailed by the Senator. There should be an individual who could be held to account for the care and treatment of a child or adolescent in such a situation, but that is not the case.

Turning to the point made by Ms Mitchell concerning the legislation, it only pertains to children who require involuntary admission. They must be assessed by a consultant psychiatrist. A very small proportion of children are admitted under section 25 of the Mental Health Act 2001. We advocate that an assessment be undertaken by any member of the team whenever a child or an adolescent presents at an emergency ward or elsewhere. As Dr. Finnerty stated, such a presentation should be regarded as an urgent need and the child or adolescent addressed by a consultant.