Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the officials for what has been a very good meeting. The point was made that the committee has a good chunk of work ahead of us.

An issue that was not raised is the need for 24-7 emergency access to mental health services. Mental health issues do not only arise between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and they do not take a break at weekends. There is a lack of 24-7 emergency mental health provision. When people feel mentally unwell accident and emergency departments are sometimes the only place they can turn to for any sort of help. We have the testimonies of people who were not listened to or treated well when they accessed an accident and emergency department. Many left without getting treatment and those who did see somebody often experienced a lack of follow-up. There is a real gap in 24-7 emergency mental healthcare and, unfortunately, people have died as a result of that gap.

Submissions and recommendations were made to the expert group in relation to treatment prior to admission in an accident and emergency department. On the word "prior", how far back does that go in relation to a person's treatment? I know people who presented to an accident and emergency department numerous times and were not admitted. What was the basis of these submissions? More important, what recommendations did they make?