Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That will certainly be done. The Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, will do so. I reassure the Deputy and the House in respect of the apprehension that reports could be prepared and concluded with no action taken. Following the completion of the QPS audit in 2013, the HSE mental health division has been progressing the implementation of those recommendations. As well as the two examples I gave in my initial contribution, I should report to the House on tangible work that is ongoing and critically important in this area.

First, the mental health division has ensured there is engagement with the Mental Health Commission to consider how to encompass the expansion of community services within the notification process. Second, additional training is being offered in HSE incident management policy and procedures to staff in the mental health services, which incorporates a formal recording and reporting processes. Third, all executive clinical directors, area directors of nursing and integrated service area, ISA, managers have been written to and reminded of their responsibilities in regard to the notification and investigation of sudden and unexplained deaths, in line with legislative requirements, policies and procedures. Fourth, all of the mental health services are reviewing their internal clinical protocols to ensure the clinical director is formally advised in writing of an incident and that this notification is formally recorded. Fifth, the national mental health division has formally appointed an assistant national director for quality and patient safety and he is formally notified of all sudden and unexplained deaths, in accordance with the policy requirement, with immediate follow up put in train. Sixth, all executive clinical directors and ISA managers have received the final quality and patient service audit, QPSA, report and have been reminded of their obligations in regard to the creation and management of records of incidents.

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