Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with all of that. In Bray on Friday, I met the new chronic disease management team, the new older persons team and the new community healthcare network, including a pilot on mental health led by an advanced nurse practitioner in mental health. The level of prevention that is going on, including emergency presentation, is very impressive and fully in line with the Sláintecare vision, involving a massive investment in community-based care. We are beginning to see a reduction in referrals in the areas where that has been deployed.

There is no monopoly in wisdom for fixing this issue. If the Deputy, other colleagues or members of the health committee want to meet or make a submission, that would be very welcome. We are in the middle of a very intensive planning phase at the moment with the HSE. I have asked the HSE to work with the Department on a hospital-by-hospital basis because the solutions are different by hospital. Any insight or ideas the committee or colleagues may have would be a very welcome part of that planning work.

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