Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD will today introduce legislation to regulate the Childrens and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The legislation, being introduced at first stage in the Dáil, would give statutory powers, under the Mental Health Act, to the Mental Health Commission to oversee the implementation of their recommendations for CAMHS.
Teachta Ward said:
“Today, alongside David Cullinane TD, I am introducing legislation to regulate CAMHS under the Mental Health Act.
“This legislation would ensure that recommendations of governance and clinical reforms made by the Mental Health Commission can be implemented by the State and the HSE.
“It would also allow the Mental Health Commission to monitor the implementation of any such recommendations and to allow them to publish a yearly report on the progress.
“The introduction of this legislation comes following damning reviews of CAMHS by both the Mental Health Commission and the Maskey Report.
“The Mental Health Commission has made 49 recommendations that the Government must accept and implement to reform CAMHS and improve care to children.
“The first of these recommendations was to regulate CAMHS under the Mental Health Act, which would give statutory powers to the Commission to oversee the implementation of their recommendations.
“Our young people and their families cannot wait, which is why I am introducing this legislation now to start the process of delivering the necessary changes within CAMHS, and to ensure that they are implemented as recommended.
“While the Mental Health Commission can make recommendations on governance and clinical reforms in CAMHS, they do not have the statutory authority to ensure that these recommendations will be implemented.
“That is what this legislation would do. I am calling on the Government to support this legislation as empowering the Mental Health Commission with the powers to improve CAMHS is the right thing to do.
“The report highlighted a large unacceptable variation of the numbers of young people waiting for appointments and the lengths of time.
“Common challenges discovered by the mental health commission included governance, budgets, risk management, digital infrastructure, clinical governance, staffing, access, transition to adult services, vulnerable children, integration, and adherence to guidelines.
“Due to the seriousness of the concerns raised by the review and number of challenges identified, the Inspector recommended that a comprehensive strategy for CAMHS must be prepared.
“Sinn Féin’s legislation will ensure that this will happen.
“Sinn Féin is taking these reports seriously, and are proposing solutions to address them. The longer the Government is in office, the worse the problems become. It’s time for change.
“I am calling for Government support for this legislation as having an independent body with the appropriate statutory powers to make positive changes in children’s mental health is something that should be welcomed by all.”
- The legislation can be read here.
