James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide 24/7 mental health services in hospitals here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51455/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Mental Health Division is seeking to expand upon the services available in the community to ensure a 7-day-a-week service. Based on an extensive data collection process, areas have been identified that would require additional resources to achieve 7/7 cover. The HSE has indicated that it expects the additional staff needed to progress this expanded service to be in place by the end of Quarter 1 2018 with the enhanced 7/7 Services commencing from then.

Currently the HSE Mental Health Services provide a 24-hour service through its Acute Units located in General Hospitals for people requiring urgent assessment and treatment.

During normal working hours i.e. 9am -5pm Monday to Friday, a person who may have harmed themselves may present to the Emergency Department. The HSE Mental Health Division, through the Programme for Government, has now ensured that all Level 4 hospitals have a Liaison Psychiatry Service available on the site of the acute hospital. This service provides prompt assessments in the Emergency Department. Most Level 3 hospitals have either a service in place or have been allocated one through the Programme for Government.

The National Clinical Programme for the Assessment and Management of Self-Harm in Emergency Departments began in December 2014. This programme has trained and deployed 33 senior mental health nurses at Clinical Nurse Specialist level to EDs around the country. This facilitates an on-site, rapid response to those who have self-harmed and/or are suicidal. It supplements and works with the Liaison Psychiatry Service to provide a bespoke response to those who are suicidal or have self-harmed.

During the on-call period, i.e. between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Monday to Friday and throughout the weekend period, there is a Consultant Psychiatrist together with a Psychiatric Registrar or Senior House Officer on duty in acute hospitals. This provides the urgent/crisis response to people presenting to Emergency Departments during the on call period. Since December 2014, this has been supplemented by the development of the Self-Harm Clinical Programme such that where two nurses are available, extended hours are provided to the Emergency Department.