Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Hopkins. I will read the response I have been given. I may not be able to address some of the details. On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who could not be here, I thank the Senator for raising this Commencement matter.

Mental health remains a priority of the programme for Government. Since 2012, around €200 million, or 28%, has been added to the HSE mental health budget which now totals over €910 million. This is a significant investment by any standard and the Programme for a Partnership Government gives a clear commitment to increase our mental health budget annually as resources allow to expand and modernise all aspects of our services, including those in Roscommon. One of the strategic priorities for mental health in the HSE national service plan 2018 is to deliver timely, clinically effective and standardised safe mental health services in adherence to statutory requirements. Specific provision is made to improve compliance through monitoring services in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission. The HSE’s national service plan 2018 also highlights the implementation of the HSE best practice guidance for mental health services, including developing and delivery of training and reporting for quality surveillance.

The Mental Health Commission is charged with visiting and inspecting every approved mental health centre at least once a year. On 15 March 2017, the commission published its report on the department of psychiatry in Roscommon University Hospital. This followed an inspection of the approved centre which took place from 5 September to 8 September 2017. While the facility received satisfactory rankings for elements of its performance, there were concerns raised by the commission on the detailed aspects of service delivery. The inspection team found, for example, that the unit failed in some respects on appropriate recreational activities, visitor areas, therapeutic services and programmes, privacy and premises, risk management procedures and admission and transfer and discharge records. Details of the full report are available on the Mental Health Commission website.

The HSE community health care organisation 2 has welcomed the commission’s report on the Roscommon acute psychiatric unit. A corrective and preventative action plan was drafted by the HSE following the receipt of the inspection report to ensure all issues identified in the report are addressed. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is satisfied that the HSE is committed to improving this particular service overall and is in the process of addressing the specific issues highlighted. One of the main concerns related to a lack of proper garden facilities for the residents and the HSE has already commenced construction of a new garden at the hospital. The Senator may rest assured that the Department of Health and the HSE will continue to closely monitor the issues raised in the Mental Health Commission report to ensure the necessary corrective actions are progressed as quickly as possible. The Senator will also be aware that the report of the Roscommon mental health services was published last September. Good progress is being made by the HSE in implementing the 27 recommendations of this report to help modernise mental health services overall in Roscommon. This will by its nature help raise standards and practice for mental health overall in Roscommon, including inpatient and community-based services.

I will respond to any supplementary questions the Senator raises.