Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The provision of appropriate and safe facilities for patients within the mental health service is a priority for me and for the Government. To ensure that services are provided in a safe environment the Mental Health Act 2001 provides the Mental Health Commission with the power to inspect, regulate and enforce standards in all approved centres. Approved centres are hospitals or other inpatient facilities for the care and treatment of people experiencing a mental illness or mental disorder and which are registered with the Mental Health Commission. Such inspections are carried out annually and a report is produced following each visit.

The HSE works closely with the Mental Health Commission and welcomes its inspection reports. The priority for the HSE is patient care and support for service users, as well as to ensure adequate accommodation and staffing in this respect. The commission’s reports help to identify those areas where improvement is required. The HSE also plays a key role in ensuring that any identified issues are remedied.

From 19 to 22 September 2017, the Mental Health Commission visited the department of psychiatry acute mental health facility in St. Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny. The 44-bed department of psychiatry serves the Carlow, Kilkenny and south Tipperary catchment area. The department has 45 whole-time equivalent nursing posts in place in addition to other medical, specialist and support staff to serve the needs of all those who require treatment and support.

During its inspection, the Mental Health Commission identified a number of issues relating to staffing requirements, screening, storage of medicines and a number of other areas. To address these issues, the commission has developed a corrective and preventative action plan. This plan outlines the steps to be taken to ensure full compliance. As noted in the inspection report, many of the actions detailed in the plan have subsequently been completed, are ongoing or are in the process of being addressed to the commission’s satisfaction. The HSE has provided funding to south-east community healthcare services to complete a number of environmental works at St. Luke’s.

Actions being taken by St. Luke’s include: provision of additional staff training and review of policy to ensure compliance with their review requirements; risk assessment forms are now being updated and reviewed in line with the approved centre’s risk management policy; and awareness of policies and procedures relating to searches will continue to form part of staff induction process and at staff meetings.

The Mental Health Commission will follow up on this report with a further inspection to ensure that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that St. Luke’s is fully compliant with mental health legislation.

The Mental Health Commission fulfils a very important role in ensuring our mental health services are of a high standard. Inspection reports, such as this, help to ensure that any deficiencies in the provision of mental health services are identified and addressed.

The Deputy has requested a meeting with HSE management. Of course, she, as a public representative and the other Oireachtas Members in the constituency are entitled to seek and be granted such a meeting. As I do not know the other side of the story, I will not comment on the floor of the Dáil. However, if the Deputy sends me the details of the request, I will ensure she gets her right as a public representative along with the other Oireachtas Members in the constituency to engage with HSE management. Communication is a vital part of the mental health service, as it is with any other service. It is very important that communication is two way.

Kilkenny has a very strong record in the area of service user involvement. It is one of the areas that is working hardest in service user engagement and hearing the voice of the service user. I am very pleased with a number of initiatives in Kilkenny and it is one of the stronger areas in that respect. The voice of the public representative must also be heard. I do not want to go any further because I do not know the other side of the specific issue the Deputy raised. If she sends me details separately, I will liaise with her and her Oireachtas colleagues in the area to ensure she gets full access to management and gets her queries answered.

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