Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Special Committee on Covid-19 Response
Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (Resumed)
Ms Rosemary Smyth:
I will answer that question. To follow up from the Deputy's previous question, we monitored all the mental health services by phone throughout the period that we were not allowed into the service. We had in excess of 2,500 calls during that period. We were in contact with services weekly if not more often. We have developed very good relationships with services on that basis.
We monitored all the services for suspected and confirmed cases. I am pleased to note that this week was the first week in which we have no cases to report within mental health services. Overall, 28 services had positive cases, 19 in inpatient approved centres and eight in community residences. A total of 47 services had positive results for staff members, 32 in inpatient services and 15 in community residences. This is what the services have advised us, and we are validating those data with services to ensure their accuracy. That is the status of the numbers as of this week.