The Government has ordered reports from the HSE on each of the individual case studies highlighted in the recent RT\u00c9 Investigates’ series on psychiatric care.<\/p>\n
T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris said it was an issue “the Government is taking extraordinarily seriously”.<\/p>\n
Mr Harris, taking Leader\u2019s Questions, said Minister for Health with responsibility for Mental Health Mary Butler was looking for answers on each of the individuals highlighted in the two-part documentary series RT\u00c9 Investigates: The Psychiatric Care Scandal.<\/p>\n
“In relation to the specific very worrying, very concerning revelations in the [programme] Minister Butler has sought a full report from the HSE on each of the experiences and cases highlighted in that programme,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I know she is very eager to get that and very eager to work through any such report in relation to a response.”<\/p>\n
He also thanked those who had taken part in the programme “for sharing their lived experiences and giving voice to [the issues]”.<\/p>\n
Mr Harris was responding to questions from Labour Party health spokesperson Marie Sherlock who said reports that people with serious mental illnesses were being “warehoused” in prisons was “shocking” and demanded a response.<\/p>\n
“In the wake of the revelations about the state of our psychiatric services and the reliance on our prison system to deal with and treat these people, what is the Government’s response? Because, to be honest, I have heard no urgency or update by way of response to what is a scandal of the State,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Sherlock said what had emerged were “life or death issues” and the State needed to implement a system of court diversion to avoid sending those with acute psychiatric conditions through criminal courts.<\/p>\n
“We need to move away from a system where the only access to mental health supports is through the prison system.<\/p>\n
“I am shocked and I hope that other people are shocked as well”.<\/p>\n
Ms Sherlock added that the response from Government has to be reiterated, was already in HSE\u2019s service plan and there needed to be a dedicated response.<\/p>\n