Written answers

Thursday, 18 November 2010

Department of Health and Children

Mental Health Services

5:00 pm

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide an update on the development of community-based mental health services as envisioned in the A Vision for Change policy of 2006; the number of patients that have been moved from institutional care settings to the type of community based accommodation proposed in this report; if the progress in implementing this report is being delayed due to reductions in health funding; the original proposals for the care of children in the A Vision for Change document; if any of these proposals have been implemented and if the number of children currently being cared for in settings that were originally intended for adults; if current staffing levels are sufficient to provide the type of care proposed under A Vision for Change; if current staffing levels and standard of care can be maintained following budget 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43438/10]

Photo of John MoloneyJohn Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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'A Vision for Change'- The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, will be implemented over a 7 to 10 year period and progress has been achieved to date including, shorter episodes of in-patient care, improved child and adolescent mental health services, fewer involuntary admissions and the involvement of service users in all aspects of mental health policy, service planning and delivery. Work is also advancing on the mental health capital programme which will provide the infrastructure necessary to enable us to migrate from a traditional, institutional based model of care, to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service.

There are substantial resources already invested in mental health and the immediate priority is to reconfigure and remodel these resources. As bed capacity in the old institutions reduces, staff will be redeployed to the community. At the end of 2009 there were one hundred and twenty-four adult community based mental health teams in place and further teams will be developed as resources allow. The 2010 Employment Control Framework for the health service provided an exemption from the moratorium and allowed for the filling of 100 psychiatric nursing posts. In addition, 90 posts have been reconfigured and are being targeted towards priority areas.

'A Vision for Change' identified gaps in the child and adolescent mental health service and made several recommendations relating to the development of such services. The Health Service Executive has prioritised the development of mental health services for children and adolescents and significant progress has been made in this regard. There are now 55 multidisciplinary teams in place and a further 8 teams are in development. During 2009, bed capacity for children and adolescents almost doubled, bringing the total number of in-patient beds to 30. Bed capacity will increase further this year with the opening of two purpose built, child and adolescent, 20-bed units in Bessboro, Cork and Merlin Park, Galway. This additional capacity, together with the Mental Health Commission Code of Practice, which requires that no child under 17 is to be admitted to an adult unit from 1 December 2010, and no child under 18 is to be admitted to an adult unit from 1 December 2012, will ensure that the admission of children to adult services will be significantly reduced.

The financial difficulties facing the country do not in any way dilute the Government's commitment in the area of mental health, and in this regard I accept that the impact of any cuts on frontline services must be minimised, and that we must ensure going forward that the needs of service users remains the highest priority.

The question relating to the number of patients that have been moved from institutional care settings to community-based accommodation is a service matter, and, accordingly, has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

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