Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Health if he will re-evaluate the way in which suicidal patients who present to accident and emergency departments are triaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7733/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm or Suicidal Ideation (NCPSHI) has been delivered in emergency departments (EDs) since 2014 for individuals presenting following self-harm or with suicidal ideation. The Clinical Programme has an associated Model of Care (MOC) which was published by the HSE in 2016, and subsequently updated in February 2022. The Model of Care was developed following an extensive review of best international practice and key stakeholder engagement, in collaboration with the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. The most recent revision of the Model of Care builds on learning to date, setting out specific pathways of care, and extending the Model to the community via Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses.

The extension of this Model of Care to Tallaght University Hospital in March 2023 will see this service operating in all 26 Emergency Departments (EDs) with 24-hour services. This will ensure the provision of appropriate services nationwide and represents progressive investment in mental health service improvement, aligned with our national suicide and self-harm reduction strategy, Connecting for Life.

The Model of Care has resulted in a clinical framework being established nationwide to ensure that any person presenting to the ED following self-harm or with suicidal ideation receives a compassionate, empathic, validating response involving a therapeutic assessment and intervention from a suitably trained mental health professional reflective of international best practice. The Model of Care emphasises the importance of ensuring the involvement of family members or a supportive adult (where appropriate) in assessment and safety planning, and that the individual is linked to appropriate next-care.

It is important to note that all presentations to EDs are triaged by emergency medicine nurses. Relevant individuals presenting intentional self-harm or suicidal ideation are referred to mental health Clinical Nurse specialists and/or Mental Health Liaison teams, as per the MOC associated with the NCPSHI programme. Consultant Psychiatrists, Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialists and non-Consultant Hospital Doctors deliver the programme, with CHO Area Management Teams ensuring its full implementation.

To date, the appointment of 49 dedicated Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialists funded by the NCPSHI across 25 EDs (open 24/7) and in the 3 paediatric EDs in Dublin has contributed to a significantly improved response for people with self-harm or suicidal ideation.