Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)

Amendment No. 213 is fairly simple. It seeks to align the vision from previously published documents and promote distributed leadership across mental health services. Twice earlier this evening, I spoke on the wrong amendment at the wrong time, but this is the one I was speaking of.

Throughout the document, there are references to consultant psychiatrists, whether that be child or adult consultant psychiatrists. There is also a reference to, at the assessment stage, a multidisciplinary approach. At the review stage, there is a multidisciplinary approach, as there is at the discharge stage. However, this section does not recognise that multidisciplinary approach, which we know achieves the best outcomes in the vast majority of cases. It also recognises that the best person on the team is the right person who is there at the right time and can meet the right needs of the patient.

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