Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Health who is unavoidably absent and sends his apologies.

In line with national policy, Waterford and Wexford mental health services implemented the recommendations of A Vision for Change on the organisation and provision of mental health services, transforming them from a largely bed-based in-patient service towards a more community-based service. In Wexford mental health services are arranged by geographic location. There are general adult mental health teams based in Summerhill in Wexford, Carn House in Enniscorthy and Tara House in Gorey, all of which operate a seven-day service from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Maryville in New Ross operates a five-day service, also from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If someone is feeling suicidal in County Wexford and wishes to have a consultation, he or she can be referred through his or her GP to any of these four day hospitals and be seen by a consultant psychiatrist. All general practitioners in County Wexford are aware of these day hospitals and familiar with the process for making direct referrals to these units.

A multidisciplinary mental health team based at Maryville includes a consultant psychiatrist for adults, a non-consultant hospital doctor, nursing staff, an occupational therapist, a psychologist, a social worker, a secretary, a community mental health nurse and a part-time addiction counsellor. In line with the proposed skill mix in A Vision for Change, the multidisciplinary team based at Maryville has expanded with the appointment of the aforementioned social worker and occupational therapist posts.

With regard to nurse staffing levels in Maryville, a nurse currently on maternity leave will be reassigned to the service on her return. In addition, a number of nursing staff have retired from Wexford mental health services in recent years. Aside from the nurse in Maryville, a number of other nurses are on maternity leave in Wexford mental health services generally. It is challenging to recruit candidates to fill temporary short-term positions such as maternity leave cover.

Management from the HSE's Waterford and Wexford mental health services continues to monitor staffing levels on a regular basis and explore all possible options within resources available to try to improve service provision. Given the number of nursing retirements and staff on maternity leave, at times the service needs to reallocate staff between mental health services and units to optimise services so as to meet patients' needs, as appropriate.

The overall recruitment of nursing staff is proving very challenging in Ireland generally, let alone in County Wexford. For example, all 11 recent nursing graduates from Waterford and Wexford mental health services have been offered full-time employment within the local mental health services. In addition, posts are advertised nationally and overseas. Other recruitment measures include bespoke recruitment campaigns.

Local HSE management and mental health service personnel are working closely with the national mental health division on nurse staffing issues. In addition, a national mental health workforce planning review group has been established to better plan and deliver staffing and service needs overall, including in the mental health area. I trust that clarifies the issues for the Deputy.

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