Written answers

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Department of Health

Mental Health Services Provision

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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34. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the roll-out of service delivery reform in the area of mental health as envisaged under A Vision for Change, particularly in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27698/15]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Since coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform and resourcing of our mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change. Additional funding totalling €125 million has been provided primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness, and forensic mental health services.

This sustained investment in mental health since 2012 is enabling the funding of over 1,150 new staff for the sector. As at the April 2015, of the 416 approved posts in 2012, approximately 96% (397.5) are now filled. Of the 477 posts approved in 2013, 85% (405.5) are filled. The remainder of the vacant posts are at various stages of recruitment, with some difficulties in identifying some outstanding candidates, primarily for geographic and qualification reasons. The recruitment of the 251 approved posts for 2014 has commenced, 52 have been hired of which 31 have started by 31st March 2015 and a further 70.5 at various stages of the recruitment process.

A great deal of progress has been made with the accelerated closure of old psychiatric hospitals and their replacement with bespoke new facilities, better suited to modern mental health care. Progress also includes the establishment of the HSE Mental Health Division which delivers on key recommendations of Vision including, the development of child and adolescent services, shorter episodes of in-patient care, the adoption of a recovery approach in the delivery of services and the involvement of service users in all aspects of mental health policy, service planning and delivery.

In relation to Wexford, progress continues to be made. In line with Vision, Wexford Mental Health Services have reorganised the provision of its services through the amalgamation of the Acute Mental Health Unit in St Senan's Hospital with Waterford Mental Health Services, which are now provided for in a 44 bed Acute In-patient Mental Health Unit in University Hospital, Waterford. In addition to this, arrangements are in place whereby service users who live in North Wexford who attend Tara House Mental Health Services in Gorey, and require acute in-patient admission, have access to 5 beds at Newcastle Hospital, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. This allows for 49 acute in-patient beds in total which meets the requirements as set out in Vision for Change , which recommends 50 acute in-patient beds for each mental health extended catchment area of 300,000 population.

To support the amalgamation of acute mental health services, a comprehensive €18m capital investment programme was implemented with the main developments taking place in Co Wexford as follows: Tara House Community Mental Health Centre in Gorey – Day Hospital; Tus Nua, Rehabilitation Unit in Enniscorthy (12 bedded unit); Havenview (14 bedded unit) and Millview (12 bedded unit) Intellectual Disability and Rehabilitation Units, Enniscorthy; Farnogue Psychiatry of Later Life Unit and Team Headquarters, Wexford (50 long stay elderly beds); Upgrade of Summerhill Community Mental Health Unit, Wexford.

The amalgamation of Waterford/Wexford Mental Health Services together with the development of community Mental Health Services, and the capital development programme, has facilitated a reduction (by approximately 40% from March 2011 to present) in the need for acute admission to the Acute In-patient Mental Health Unit at University Hospital Waterford.

In July 2014 a new purpose built 10-bed Crisis Respite Unit, An Tearmann, opened in Enniscorthy to provide 10 respite beds for service users who are referred through their mental health community team for respite care.

In addition to the above, there are a number of Mental Health Services in operation in Wexford, seven days a week from 9 am – 5 pm, at Tara House Gorey, Carn House Enniscorthy, Summerhill Wexford and Maryville, New Ross. There is also a 7-day Specialist Liaison Services at the Emergency Department Wexford General and the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service is available in Wexford, working with General Practitioners in the Community.

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