Written answers

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Department of Health

Mental Health Services

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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470. To ask the Minister for Health to outline developments in the involvement of the Health Information and Quality Authority in the inspection of mental health services since the signing of a memorandum of understanding of working together with the Mental Health Commission; and if he will provide details of reports on inspections completed since the signing of the memorandum. [36301/15]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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HIQA and the Mental Health Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 23 September 2013. This MOU has underpinned cooperation between the two bodies since then.

HIQA recognises the Mental Health Commission's role in helping to drive improvements in the quality and safety of social care services that are provided for people being cared for in the mental health services. In fulfilling its statutory responsibilities, since September 2013 HIQA has used the MOU to ensure that its work is consistent with its statutory remit and with the terms of the MOU.

HIQA has also used the MOU to inform its regulatory work when that work relates to care settings for which the Mental Health Commission also has a regulatory duty. This results in a complementary approach which ultimately serves the best interests of people who use social care services. HIQA has a strong and positive working relationship with the Commission in this regard. HIQA and the Mental Health Commission also interact through the work of Ireland's Health and Social Care Regulatory Forum.

HIQA has no role in the inspection of mental health services, which is a matter for the Inspector of Mental Health Services. Copies of the Inspector's reports are regularly published on the Mental Health Commission website and reports published since the signing of the memorandum can be found there.

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