Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I really appreciate all the information. It is welcome to hear about this solace café, the CAMHS hub and the additional team. I queried how many under-18s presented at the UHL emergency department with mental health issues and the data shows that the numbers have increased, which is a huge concern to me. In 2023, for example, 173 under-18s presented with mental health issues or as being at risk of suicide or self-harm. I believe they are presenting in crises and the emergency department is not the best environment for those cases. I appreciate the information the Minister of State supplied, which is very welcome. I have data showing there has been an increase of 14% in the people presenting at the emergency department in UHL versus the same period last year. Among the over-75s, trends show the presentations have increased by 15% and the number of patients on trolleys has increased by 49%. This is in stark contrast to the reduction in all other emergency departments. I know the Department is developing a national reform framework and I ask the Minister of State to speak to that in her contribution.

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