Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 482 - Mental health services [54037/17].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 482 - Mental health services [54037/17]. (14 Dec 2017)

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482. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health  the status of the completion of the model of care for dual diagnosis. [54037/17]

 

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly):  The HSE's Mental Health Division recognised the need for a Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis to respond to people with substance misuse, both alcohol and/or drugs, together with mental illness. The HSE's Primary Care Division has already appointed a National Clinical Lead for the Addiction Services to improve its response to drug and alcohol abuse at primary care level and this Clinical Lead will work with the Mental Health Clinical Lead to develop a cohesive programme for those with a dual diagnosis.

The aims of this Programme are to develop a standardised evidence-based approach to the identification, assessment and treatment of comorbid mental illness and substance misuse. An integral part of the Dual Diagnosis Programme will be to devise a model of care that will outline how all adolescents and adults suspected of having a moderate to severe mental illness coexisting with significant substance misuse have access to a timely mental health services nationally. This is to be delivered on a CHO basis. The aim will be for the service to be provided in an integrated manner across the HSE's Primary Care Division and the Mental Health Service and will ensure that there are close working relationships with the relevant specialities in the Acute Hospital Groups which will deal with any medical comorbidities that may occur, particularly in those with alcohol misuse.

 

A National Working Group, made up of key stakeholders with clinical, service user and service provider expertise, has been appointed. The Group had its first meeting in mid October 2017 and has initiated a work plan to develop a Model of Care based on a Programmatic approach to service improvement and development.

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