Written answers

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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847. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of any outreach programme operated by the hospitals in County Cork, whereby a member calls to a person in the city or county who may be suicidal; if he will outline any future plan for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22239/15]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Since the advent of the Self Harm Clinical Programme in early December 2014, many Emergency Departments have had assigned to them a self-harm nurse at Clinical Nurse Specialist level. These Clinical Nurse Specialists in psychiatry work in Emergency Departments to provide a more rapid response to those who present with episodes of self-harm. Twenty four of the thirty five nurses approved for this programme have been recruited and are deployed in a number of hospitals. Each nurse is trained in the biopsychosocial assessment of people who self-harm and following such an assessment a care plan is drawn up involving the person and their next of kin (if they consent). Each person is offered whatever support and care is clinically appropriate thereafter. This might include referral to a voluntary agency specialising in the care of people with suicidal ideation or self-harm, referral to the primary care psychology services and or to the local Community Mental Health Team. As part of this Programme, clinical activity is being collected and it is hoped that if this intervention has a good outcome it may be possible to extend the hours and days of working to ensure a more comprehensive response within Emergency Departments.

In relation to the provision of an outreach programme operated by the hospitals in Cork, as this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

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