Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Health her views on whether it is appropriate that a person presenting with suicidal tendencies at Wexford General Hospital and in need of consultation with a psychiatrist would have to go through two accident and emergency departments, in Wexford and in Waterford, in order to see a psychiatrist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22526/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Since coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change. We are committed to reducing the stigma of mental illness, ensuring early and appropriate intervention and improving access to modern mental health services in the community. Additional funding totalling €125 million and some 1,150 new posts have been provided for mental health services since 2012.

This funding has enabled the HSE to develop a number of services and programmes for people who are in suicidal crisis, including the self-harm Clinical Programme which provides for assessment and management of patients presenting with self-harm to Emergency Departments, the development of the Liaison Psychiatry Service and the roll out of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service.

In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy as this is a service matter, 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.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Health his Department's policy or plans for early intervention for psychosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Since coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change.We are committed to reducing the stigma of mental illness, ensuring early and appropriate intervention and improving access to modern mental health services in the community.

A Vision for Changeacknowledged the increasing emphasis on prompt identification and intervention with initial or early episodes of psychosis. It also noted the evidence which indicates that there is a clear relationship between the length of time it takes to respond to an individual’s first experience of psychosis and long-term outcome for that service user. If the illness is recognised and treated at an earlier stage, evidence has shown that more people will make a better recovery. An early intervention for psychosis service aims to treat people with psychotic conditions as soon after the onset of symptoms as possible.

The National Clinical Programme for Mental Health was set up in 2010 as a joint initiative between the HSE Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division and the College of Psychiatry of Ireland. A National Clinical Advisor/Clinical Programme Group Lead has been appointed. The aim of the post is to oversee the development of the Mental Health Clinical Programmes, providing leadership and guidance to effect the development of best practice care pathways, to support their approval and to oversee implementation by the local Mental Health Areas.

The overarching aim of the national programmes is to standardise quality evidence based practice across the Mental Health Services. The Mental Health Clinical Programme currently has three programmes. These are:

- Early Intervention for People Developing First Episode Psychosis.

- National Clinical Care Programme for the Assessment and Management of Patients Presenting to Emergency Departments following Self-Harm.

- Eating Disorders Service Spanning Child and Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services.

These programmes address identified areas of high need and provide a programmatic response in which integration with other relevant services is key to successful delivery and reform.

The HSE National Service Plan 2015 commits to establishing the three Clinical Programmes through the appointment of Clinical Leads and implementation of an agreed monitoring framework. The 2015 Plan also commits to the design and establishment of two additional Clinical Programmes informed by emerging models of care.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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135. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any multidisciplinary teams in County Wexford which work on early intervention for psychosis or other disorders; if so, if these teams are fully staffed; if there are community-based interventions for such disorders in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22528/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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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.