Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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425. To ask the Minister for Health the number of suicide crisis assessment nurses in the Mater hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23065/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) Initiative was first set up in 2008 in line with A Vision for Change's proposed shift towards community-based provision of multidisciplinary services. Under this initiative, GPs can refer directly to SCAN Nurses for assessment and advice on management of their patients who attend their surgeries with suicidal ideation. In each of these settings, a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment is carried out together with an assessment of mental state and a risk assessment for suicide. On the basis of this, a care plan is drawn up and the next steps depend on the psychosocial stresses identified together with the presence or absence of a mental illness such as depression.

As of end of February 2017, the Mater has two Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health the policy or procedures in place in the accident and emergency department of the Mater hospital when an adult, adolescent or child, respectively, presents with suicidal ideation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23066/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.