Mental health legislation review
Colm Keaveney seeks confirmation that mental-health reform and review of the Mental Health Act remain priorities, citing delayed access to psychiatric beds; the Minister says a related report, delayed by a requested extension, is expected within a month or so.
The programme for Government provides for a policy on mental health to incorporate the recommendations of A Vision for Change. I would be grateful if the Minister confirmed that it was still a Government priority to honour the commitments set out in A Vision for Change. We were promised a review of the Mental Health Act. It was a human rights approach to providing for mental health patients.
Comment on this
In the light of reports over the weekend that psychiatric patients had to wait for up to eight days for appropriate bed treatment-----
Comment on this
-----and suicidal patients were being denied access to beds in this city, when will we see the expedition of the legislation?
Comment on this
The question is associated with the one asked by Deputy Dessie Ellis. A report was due after Christmas, but one of the interested parties looked for an extension of time to enable it to make a submission and the report is now expected within the next month or so.