Written answers
Thursday, 19 October 2023
Department of Health
Mental Health Services
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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334. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacancies in each of the 75 CAMHS teams, by post, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45900/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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335. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to enhance the co-ordination and governance of community-based child and youth mental health services and establish a more cohesive and effective continuum of care, particularly given the number of HSE-funded service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45901/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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336. To ask the Minister for Health to provide the names and budgets of organisations funded by the HSE to deliver child and youth mental health services in each of the nine CHOs, in tabular form. [45902/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health the current waiting list for each CAMHS unit and the number of patients that have been waiting for over 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, in tabular form. [45903/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health the rates for acceptance on the first referral for each CAMHS unit, in tabular form. [45904/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the progress of the working group responsible for the roll-out of Health link and the relevant ICT software in CAMHS units; the expected timeline for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45905/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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340. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the recommendation from the final report on the provision of child and adolescent mental health services in the State by a person (details supplied) for the Mental Health Commission to extend its regulatory remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45906/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Mental Health Commission report is a welcome contribution to a common objective of improving CAMHS services. Of the 49 Recommendations, many are already being progressed under workstreams arising from the Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan, the Maskey Report, the COG audit and the national audit of prescribing practice.
The Mental Health Commission plays a vital independent role in supporting and assisting the Department of Health and the HSE in developing and improving mental health services. I, the HSE and all advocates in the sector share the Commission’s commitment to ensure the safest and most effective service for children. To this end, on foot of the Maskey report I had extensive engagement with the Commission and encouraged them to undertake a comprehensive review of children’s mental health services as the topic for their annual mental health services review. I was also pleased to provide the necessary resources to the Mental Health Commission to enable this comprehensive review to take place, running in parallel with the HSE national CAMHS audits.
While the MHC Interim Report highlighted concerns regarding service delivery and administrative practices in five CHOs, many of these related to operational issues within CAMHS teams that have been recognised and resolved. It is reassuring that the final report identified evidence of clinical audits of open cases during the review of the final four CHOs. This final report along with the interim report highlight concerns regarding gaps in governance, both at corporate and clinical level across CHOs. In highlighting these areas where practices can, and should, be addressed, the Commission provides an opportunity to ensure that the HSE’s services are improved.
Of course, any area that falls short of the high standards that young people and their families should rightly expect is an area of concern. However, I am reassured from the on-going and extensive engagement between my Department, the HSE, and the Commission regarding the findings of the Final Report, that care in individual cases has not been seriously compromised. It should be noted that any areas of concern identified by the Commission in carrying out its report were escalated immediately to the HSE for immediate action and resolution.
I look forward to continuing to engage with the HSE, and specifically with the new office for youth mental health, to ensure that these recommendations are delivered on.
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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341. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the review of North Kerry CAMHS, including information on the scope of the review, areas or periods it may exclude; the expected timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45907/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
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