Dr. Siobh?n McHale:

The psycho-oncology programme is a really good example of an area of medicine that has taken these issues on board. The funding for this comes through the national cancer control programme, not from mental health services. I know a number of colleagues who are trying to work across the boundary between psychiatry or mental health services and medical conditions to try to improve access to integrated care. This could apply to cystic fibrosis or neurological disorders or whatever groups that need to have a similar model. The outline of how it has been constructed in the national psycho-oncology programme - in acute hospitals, in the community and working across voluntary services and in HSE-funded services - is a really good model to consider.