Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 December 2006

3:00 pm

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The HSE is carrying out an exercise to assess what must be changed in particular areas to reduce waiting times. It has confirmed that child mental health services in County Kildare succeeded in greatly reducing waiting times following the appointment of an advanced nurse practitioner who worked in close collaboration with a local multidisciplinary team to improve service access. The HSE is evaluating this model with a view to extending it to other areas, as it has been shown to work.

The HSE has 45 child and adolescent mental health teams and funding was provided this year for an additional eight. Recruitment is under way. Implementation of A Vision for Change requires the recruitment of an additional 40 child and adolescent mental health teams. This will be provided for on a phased basis, as planned, over a number of years. The provision of the eight teams required an additional allocation of €26 million for further development of mental health services. Although the money was provided, all the staff have not yet been recruited, as it is not easy to find qualified staff in these areas.

The provision of funding will be prioritised next year to increase the number of child and adolescent mental health teams and provide additional beds. The inpatient services at St. Anne's in Galway and Warrenstown are being expanded, while four new units are being developed in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, each of which will have approximately 20 beds which will help substantially in dealing with the problem. Interim arrangements have been made by the HSE, pending the provision of additional child and adolescent beds. All children in adult units will be treated on a one-to-one basis and additional training will be provided for staff. The Mental Health Act is in full operation since 1 November. It provides additional safeguards for children and for the first time recognises 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds as children. The Mental Health Commission has issued a code of practice for the admission of children under the Mental Health Act.

We must provide up to 40 additional teams. As I understand, it will take a few years to recruit the necessary staff. Eight new teams were put in place this year which means 45 are already in service. Therefore, we must put 32 more in place before we fulfil the requirements of A Vision for Change.

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