Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1404. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the way in which accident and emergency units are unsuitable for the presentation of persons in a mental health crisis situation; his views on the need for mental health crisis presentation areas in each hospital that would be separate to the general accident and emergency area; the progress being made on a proposal for a crisis room at the accident and emergency department of South Tipperary General Hospital; his plans to investigate the roll-out of separate mental health waiting areas in each acute hospital nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22688/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that I have visited Clonmel in relation to Mental Health on three occasions since becoming Minister, the latest being 28 August when I visited South Tipperary General Hospital to see the arrangements in place for mental health patients attending its Emergency Department (ED).

I had a most useful and enlightening discussion with representatives of the Executive Management Team and some of the Clinical Leads. I was given a comprehensive tour of the hospital to get an overview of all major services there, including those for mental health patients needing to attend ED where often serious or life-threatening physical care is required.

The provision of care to mental health patients attending EDs nationally is in line with agreed norms for such care settings. It reflects also the widely agreed mental health policies A Vision for Changeand Sharing the Vision,thus helping to reduce stigma and improve integrated care for mental health patients. These objectives are clearly being realised at South Tipperary General Hospital, including within the ED, and the operational practice there is in line with HSE and HIQA requirements for such patients.

All mental health patients attending the ED are triaged in accordance with assessed clinical need, with the objective of referring them as soon as possible to the HSE Mental Health service once they are discharged from ED.

The South Tipperary General Hospital ED has a 24-hour Mental Health Nurse Liaison service for mental health patients. I spoke at length with the Mental Health Liaison Nurse on duty who is one of 3 that delivers a 24-hour service 7 days a week. There are two existing rooms within this ED, dedicated for mental health patients. Bearing in mind all the circumstances, which I detailed further in my letter of 1 September to local public representatives in Tipperary and which I asked to be relayed to local voluntary groups, there are no plans to introduce the type of separate care pathways suggested by the Deputy. I am satisfied that arrangements in the ED at this hospital, and nationally, are suitable and offer high quality and safe services to mental health patients requiring emergency physical care.