Written answers

Thursday, 18 July 2013

Department of Health

Community Care Provision

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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681. To ask the Minister for Health his policy in respect of care in the community through the use of day care centres, low support hostels, medium support hostels and high support hostels for persons with mental health/psychiatric requirements which were to be rolled out over a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36206/13]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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A Vision for Change recommended the closure of the old psychiatric hospitals and a move from the traditional institutional based model of care to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service, where the need for hospital admission is greatly reduced, while still providing in-patient care when appropriate.

The Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community. Mental health services are provided directly by the HSE and by voluntary partners in a variety of settings including acute in-patient facilities, day hospitals and day centres, supported community residences and to service users in their own homes.

Budgets 2012 and 2013 provided additional funding totalling €70 million for the continued development of our mental health services. This funding is being used primarily to further strengthen community mental health teams for adults, children, older persons and mental health intellectual disability. 891 posts have been approved to implement these measures.

As at 16 July 2013, 389 of the 414 posts approved in 2012 have either been filled, are under offer or awaiting clearance. 132 of the 477 posts approved for 2013 have been accepted by candidates with clearances being processed and a further 16 posts have been offered to candidates to express an interest.

The HSE's National Recruitment Service (NRS) creates national panels in anticipation of vacancies. On occasion however, it is difficult to fill some posts for various reasons including geographical location, international shortage of some grades, most notably clinical Psychologists etc. The NRS is currently working to ensure that the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, from existing panels or through competition in the absence of panels, at the earliest opportunity.

I have received assurances from the HSE that the recruitment process for the new posts being funded in 2013 and any outstanding posts from the 414 approved in 2012, is being given priority within the HSE.

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