Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The case referred to by Deputy Neville is tragic and I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the family concerned.

In March 2005, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for mental health, Deputy Tim O'Malley, requested the Mental Health Commission to prepare a report on the circumstances of the death of the named person. In November this year, the report was received in the Department.

The Mental Health Commission, which was established in April 2002, is an independent statutory body, the primary function of which is to promote and foster high standards and good practice in the delivery of mental health services and to ensure the interests of detained persons are protected. The report of the mental health services inspectorate of the commission examined the service provided in the acute psychiatric unit — the GF unit — at Cork University Hospital and the physical layout thereof. The report also examined the observation policies and procedures as well as bed usage and related matters. In preparing its report, the commission sought information from the Health Service Executive southern area on the actions undertaken by the health service since the death of the named person. The inspectorate also carried out a review of the circumstances surrounding the death. The inspection took place on 19 and 20 January 2006.

The GF unit at Cork University Hospital is the admission unit for the south Lee mental health services. It is a 46-bed acute psychiatric unit. There are 23 beds for male patients and 23 for female patients. I am informed by the HSE that it is engaged in a process to redesign the unit, which will include a high-observation area. A clinical audit committee has been established and staff have been provided with clinical risk management training.

Under the Health Act 2004, operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, the Department of Health and Children has written to the HSE requesting that all shortcomings identified in the report be addressed as a matter of urgency. The Government adopted the report of the expert group on mental health policy in January 2006 and €26.2 million was made available this year to commence implementation. The latter amount includes €1.2 million made available to the HSE for suicide prevention initiatives. A further €25 million will be made available in 2007. The Government is committed to ensuring that the highest standard of patient care is provided within our mental health service in line with A Vision for Change.

As Deputies are aware, the report proposes a holistic view of mental illness and recommends an integrated multidisciplinary approach to addressing the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to mental health problems. It recommends a person-centred treatment approach which addresses each of these elements through an integrated care plan, reflecting best practice and, most importantly, evolved and agreed with both service users and their carers.

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