Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
582. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains any national dataset recording the number of referrals to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services that are rejected, redirected, or deemed ineligible for assessment; and if not, whether she intends to introduce such reporting arrangements. [36043/26]
View answer583. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted any governance review, clinical risk assessment, or audit regarding the absence of national data collection on rejected or redirected referrals within the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse pathway since its implementation. [36044/26]
View answer584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE tracks outcomes for persons who are referred to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services but are subsequently deemed ineligible or redirected to alternative pathways; and if not, the reason such outcome monitoring is not maintained. [36045/26]
View answer585. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE tracks outcomes for persons who are referred to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services but are subsequently deemed ineligible or redirected to alternative pathways; and if not, the reason such outcome monitoring is not maintained. [36046/26]
View answer586. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any adverse incident reviews, serious incident management reviews, or patient safety reviews have identified concerns regarding referrals redirected or excluded from the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse pathway since 2022. [36047/26]
View answer587. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE can identify the number of persons who presented to emergency departments following referral, attempted referral, or redirection involving the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse pathway in 2025 and 2026. [36048/26]
View answer588. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Mental Health Commission has reviewed or assessed the governance, data collection arrangements, or oversight framework associated with the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service model. [36049/26]
View answer589. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE intends to expand the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse database to include upstream referral source data, rejected referrals, redirected referrals, and cross-service pathway tracking; and if so, the timeline for implementation. [36050/26]
View answer590. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national KPIs exist measuring repeat presentations involving persons referred through the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse pathway across GP, emergency department, CAMHS, and Community Mental Health Team settings. [36051/26]
View answer591. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE has assessed whether the absence of integrated pathway data within the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse model limits national suicide prevention planning, service evaluation, or patient safety oversight. [36052/26]
View answer592. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a nationally binding minimum clinical standard exists for the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations in primary care settings; and if she will provide details of that standard. [36053/26]
View answer593. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether all CHO areas utilise the same structured suicide-risk assessment framework for patients presenting with suicidal ideation or self-harm concerns in primary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36063/26]
View answer594. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national audit, review, or assessment has been undertaken since 2020 regarding variation in suicide-risk assessment practices between CHO areas, primary care teams, or SCAN services; and if she will provide details of any findings identified [36064/26]
View answer595. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal risk assessment has been undertaken by her Department or the HSE regarding potential patient safety risks arising from variation in clinical practice in the assessment and management of suicidal ideation or self-harm presentations; and if she will provide details of same. [36065/26]
View answer596. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the operational guidelines issued to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services are mandatory national standards or advisory guidance documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36066/26]
View answer597. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of CHO areas in which the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service is fully operational; the number where rollout remains incomplete; and the projected completion timeline for national implementation. [36058/26]
View answer598. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels assigned to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services in each CHO area as of 1 May 2026, including sanctioned posts, filled posts, vacancies, and agency staffing utilised. [36059/26]
View answer599. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any adverse incident reviews, serious incident management reviews, or patient safety investigations since 2020 identified concerns relating to inconsistent suicide-risk assessment practices, delayed assessment, or regional variation in access to suicide-intervention services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36060/26]
View answer600. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether compliance with the key performance indicators set out in the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation is monitored nationally; the escalation process in place where services fail to meet those targets; and if she will provide details of same. [36061/26]
View answer601. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Mental Health Commission, HIQA, or any external oversight body has undertaken any review, inspection, or governance assessment of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service or the wider National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation; and if she will provide details of any such review. [36062/26]
View answer602. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current national compliance rates for each SCAN service KPI disclosed in PQ 28151/26, broken down by HSE region and CHO area for 2025 to date. [36077/26]
View answer607. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels currently assigned to the SCAN service nationally, broken down by region, grade, and whole-time equivalent. [36082/26]
View answer609. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of GP referrals made to the SCAN service in 2025 and 2026 to date, and the number deemed inappropriate or not accepted. [36084/26]
View answer610. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether waiting-time data for SCAN assessments will be published regularly; and if so, the planned publication schedule. [36085/26]
View answer611. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has assessed the medico-legal and patient safety risks associated with delayed SCAN assessments where the 72-hour KPI is not achieved. [36086/26]
View answer617. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time from GP referral to first SCAN assessment for persons under 18 years of age in each Regional Health Area in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36124/26]
View answer618. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals made to under-18 SCAN services in each Regional Health Area in 2025 and to date in 2026; the number accepted for assessment; the number redirected to emergency departments; the number referred onward to CAMHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36125/26]
View answer619. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national performance indicators or outcome measures exist for under-18 SCAN services, including response times, follow-up engagement rates, repeat presentations and onward referral outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36126/26]
View answer620. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or HSE has undertaken any assessment of regional inequality in access to under-18 SCAN services arising from the absence of dedicated services in certain Regional Health Areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36127/26]
View answer621. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of funded under-18 SCAN posts currently vacant; the duration of each vacancy; the regions affected; and the measures being taken to accelerate recruitment into these services. [36128/26]
View answer622. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted any evaluation of the effectiveness of SCAN services in reducing emergency department presentations, repeat crisis episodes, hospital admissions or self-harm presentations among persons under 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36129/26]
View answer623. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the projected timeline for the operational commencement of the additional SCAN posts funded under Budget 2026 in Linn Dara, Kildare, Dublin South City, Galway, Kerry and Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36130/26]
View answer624. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains a national dataset on the number of persons under 18 years of age assessed through SCAN services who subsequently require CAMHS intervention, inpatient admission or emergency department presentation within six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36131/26]
View answer625. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the absence of SCAN services in the HSE Mid West area has been classified by her Department or the HSE as a service gap or patient-safety risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36132/26]
View answer626. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason no SCAN service posts are currently funded within the HSE Mid West area despite the national rollout of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide Related Ideation [36133/26]
View answer627. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has established a target date for full national coverage of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services; and if not, the reason no implementation deadline has been set. [36134/26]
View answer628. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated total number of SCAN posts required to achieve full national coverage under the National Clinical Programme for Self Harm and Suicide Related Ideation. [36135/26]
View answer629. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a workforce planning assessment has been undertaken regarding the recruitment and retention challenges affecting rollout of SCAN services nationally; and if so, if she will provide details. [36136/26]
View answer630. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether waiting times, referral numbers, service utilisation rates, or outcomes data are centrally collected for SCAN services; and if she will provide the available data by county and Regional Health Area. [36137/26]
View answer631. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any equality-of-access assessment has been conducted regarding geographic disparities in access to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36138/26]
View answer632. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of GP referrals made to SCAN services in each county in 2024 and to date in 2026. [36139/26]
View answer633. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has assessed the impact on emergency departments in areas where SCAN services are unavailable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36140/26]
View answer634. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated under Budget 2026 for expansion of SCAN services; how much of that allocation has been drawn down to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36141/26]
View answer635. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national performance indicators were in operation for Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services prior to the commencement of national SCAN data collection in 2025; and if so, to provide details of such indicators and the manner in which they were monitored. [36144/26]
View answer636. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse posts currently funded and filled, by HSE region; and the number of vacancies currently existing within the service. [36145/26]
View answer637. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent evaluation has been undertaken of the national rollout of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service since the publication of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation in 2022; and if so, to provide details. [36146/26]
View answer638. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE tracked referral outcomes, repeat presentations, emergency department diversion rates, or adverse incidents associated with the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service prior to the establishment of the national dataset in 2025. [36147/26]
View answer639. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that the absence of a unified national SCAN dataset between 2022 and 2025 limited the State's ability to evaluate consistency of service delivery and patient outcomes across regions. [36148/26]
View answer640. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated date on which the first national SCAN KPI report will be published; and whether this report will be published annually thereafter. [36149/26]
View answer641. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any external governance or audit review was undertaken regarding the delay between the 2022 national rollout of SCAN services and the commencement of national data collection in 2025. [36150/26]
View answer642. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the decision was taken to expand the SCAN service nationally under the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation; and whether a national key performance indicator framework was in place at the time that decision was made. [36151/26]
View answer643. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent evaluation, external audit, or formal service review of the SCAN service has been undertaken since its integration into the National Clinical Programme in 2022; and if not, whether such a review is planned. [36152/26]
View answer644. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the key performance indicators currently used by the HSE in monitoring the SCAN service nationally, including any indicators relating to waiting times, repeat presentations, onward referrals, patient outcomes, or service accessibility. [36153/26]
View answer645. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received by the SCAN service in each CHO area in 2025 to date and 2026 to date; and to provide the corresponding staffing levels assigned to the service in each area. [36154/26]
View answer646. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has identified any regional disparities in access to the SCAN service, including differences in waiting times, referral thresholds, staffing levels, or service availability; and if so, the measures being taken to address same. [36155/26]
View answer647. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE records the number of individuals referred onward from the SCAN service to emergency departments, community mental health teams, CAMHS, or inpatient mental health services; and if so, to provide the figures for 2025 and 2026 to date. [36156/26]
View answer648. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any adverse incidents, serious incidents, or clinical risk events associated with the SCAN service have been recorded since 2022; and if so, the number recorded in each year. [36157/26]
View answer649. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted any service-user feedback surveys or GP satisfaction evaluations in relation to the SCAN service since 2022; and if so, to provide details and findings. [36158/26]
View answer650. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has established a national governance structure for oversight of the SCAN service, including audit, performance monitoring, and clinical accountability arrangements; and to provide details of same. [36159/26]
View answer651. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of the continued national expansion of the SCAN service under Budget 2026; the additional areas due to receive coverage; and the estimated staffing increases associated with this expansion. [36160/26]
View answer652. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service sites that were operational nationally in each year from 2020 to 2025, broken down by CHO area, HSE Health Region, and hospital group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36161/26]
View answer653. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any standardised national dataset existed for Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services prior to 2025; and if not, the reason such a dataset was not established at the commencement of the national rollout of the service following publication of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation Model of Care in 2022. [36162/26]
View answer654. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE retains historical local, regional, or site-specific activity data for Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services prior to the implementation of the national SCAN dataset in 2025; whether such data will be consolidated nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36163/26]
View answer655. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national key performance indicators applied to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services prior to 2025; if so, to provide details of those indicators; and if not, the reason no national KPI framework was in place. [36164/26]
View answer656. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE can currently measure repeat presentations, onward referral outcomes, emergency department diversion rates, waiting times, or follow-up engagement within the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service; and if so, to provide details of the metrics currently collected [36165/26]
View answer657. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, governance review, clinical review, service evaluation, or external assessment has been undertaken regarding the operation of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services since 2022; and if so, to provide the dates, findings, and recommendations of each review.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36166/26]
View answer658. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE identified the absence of a nationally standardised Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse dataset as a governance, operational, or patient-safety risk prior to 2025; whether the matter appeared on any risk register, governance report, or internal review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36167/26]
View answer659. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the national Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse data collection system formally went live; the procurement process used for the associated data platform or software system; the total cost associated with its development and implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36168/26]
View answer660. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether all Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services nationally currently use the same referral criteria, assessment framework, clinical protocols, and data-reporting standards; and if not, to provide details of regional or local variations that remain in operation. [36169/26]
View answer661. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff employed within the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service in each year from 2020 to 2025, broken down by grade, HSE Health Region, and service location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36170/26]
View answer662. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service nationally and by HSE region, including sanctioned posts, filled posts and vacancies. [36172/26]
View answer663. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received by the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service in 2025 to date, by month and by HSE region. [36173/26]
View answer664. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the percentage of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse referrals assessed within the target timeframe of 72 hours in 2025 to date, by HSE region. [36174/26]
View answer665. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of persons referred to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service who did not receive assessment within the target timeframe in 2025 to date. [36175/26]
View answer666. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has identified any regions where Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service KPI targets are not being met; and if so, to provide details. [36176/26]
View answer667. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time from GP referral to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse assessment in each HSE region in 2025 to date.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36177/26]
View answer668. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals referred to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service who subsequently presented to an emergency department within 30 days of referral in 2025 to date.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36178/26]
View answer669. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent audit or external evaluation of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service has been carried out since the establishment of the programme; and if so, to provide details.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36179/26]
View answer670. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the full national SCAN performance report will be published; whether the report will be laid before the Oireachtas; and whether regional performance data will be included. [36180/26]
View answer671. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE centrally records adverse incidents, self-harm re-presentations or deaths by suicide involving persons referred to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service; and if so, to provide details of the governance arrangements in place. [36181/26]
View answer672. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted any assessment of unmet demand within Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services arising from referrals deemed not appropriate for assessment [36182/26]
View answer673. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of referrals redirected away from Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services in 2025, including referrals redirected to emergency departments, CAMHS, CMHTs or primary care pathways [36183/26]
View answer674. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health why a national SCAN dataset was not operational during 2023 and 2024 despite the national model of care having been launched in 2022 [36184/26]
View answer675. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any risk assessment or governance review has been undertaken regarding the absence of national SCAN activity data during 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36185/26]
View answer676. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE intends to introduce mandatory recording of referrals not accepted for SCAN assessment, including reasons for non-acceptance and onward referral pathways; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36186/26]
View answer677. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE records waiting times from GP referral to SCAN assessment; and if not, whether there are plans to introduce such monitoring. [36187/26]
View answer678. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of repeat presentations recorded within the SCAN service in 2025; and whether the HSE has analysed repeat presentation patterns as a marker of service effectiveness or unmet need. [36188/26]
View answer679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has established national key performance indicators for Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services beyond presentation numbers; and if so, to provide details. [36189/26]
View answer680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national audit has been conducted of referral appropriateness decisions within Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services [36190/26]
View answer681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE intends to expand the SCAN database to include referral source routing information involving CAMHS and CMHT services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36191/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 582 to 602, inclusive, 607, 609 to 611, inclusive, and 617 to 681, inclusive, together.
The Government’s commitment to developing mental health services is reflected in significant investment in mental health in recent years. Budget 2026 provided a record allocation of almost €1.6 billion for mental health services. This forms part of an additional €1.5 billion in current expenditure for the Health Vote in 2026, bringing the total current health funding to €25.8 billion and funding the recruitment of approximately 300 additional whole-time equivalent staff within mental health services.
A key focus of Budget 2026 was improving supports for people experiencing mental health crisis, both in hospital and in the community, through an additional
€15 million for crisis supports and suicide prevention. This builds on progress made in recent years to develop alternatives to Emergency Department care for people in crisis.
Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) Service - Overview
The Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service is a key component of national suicide prevention and crisis response efforts. It provides a timely response to referrals from GPs for the assessment of people experiencing suicidal crisis, with assessments often taking place in primary care or community settings.
The SCAN service was developed under the National Clinical Programme for Self-harm and Suicide-related Ideation (NCPSHI), originally introduced in South Dublin in 2007. The Model of Care was revised in 2022, and the SCAN service came under the auspices of the NCPSHI at that time. Delivery is primarily by Clinical Nurse Specialists, with consultant psychiatrist support within each catchment area of 300,000 population. Budget 2026 has provided additional funding for the recruitment of a further 12 CNS posts and meetings have taken place to seek funding for nurses to be recruited at the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) grade.
The SCAN service provides a short-term, specialist, community-based clinical response for individuals presenting in primary care with suicidal ideation or self-harm that does not require acute hospital intervention. SCAN operates as a defined pathway within the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation (NCPSHI) and is aligned with national mental health policy, including Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life.
Referral and assessment process
The SCAN service is delivered by specialist mental health nurses, providing an expert response to suicidal crisis in primary care settings. Referrals to SCAN are accepted from General Practitioner (GPs), reflecting the GPs central role as the first point of contact for health concerns in primary care. Clinical responsibility for the patient remains with the GP. SCAN nurses in collaboration with the GP and referred person arrange a mutually agreeable day and time for the face-to-face assessment. This scheduling process is guided by clinical judgement and takes into account the acuity of the presenting risk, the urgency of the referral as indicated by the GP and also the person’s level of distress or safety considerations related to their individual circumstances. Assessments draw on a national agreed biopsychosocial assessment approach, giving equal weight to the person’s mental and physical health, their social circumstances and immediate factors that have brought them to crisis. The assessment ensures that a family member or supportive friend is contacted to provide collateral information. Central to the SCAN model is the collaborative development of a safety plan together with the patient, this is a personalised, practical response to their crisis that is built with them rather than for them.
Rollout of SCAN
The SCAN service is being rolled out nationally as part of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-related Ideation published in 2022.The MOC recommends 1 senior nurse per 75,000 population and 0.2 WTE Consultant Psychiatrist per 300,000. Future rollout will be phased in line with the annual Estimates process.
In 2025 there were 33 funded CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist) posts providing a SCAN service for adults including 3 services dedicated for those under 18 years of age. An additional 12 SCAN nurses are funded in Budget 2026 which will bring the total to 45 once recruited. A SCAN serviced dedicated to the Traveller community is being established in HSE West and North West Region, with plans for further expansion to the Mid-West Region this year. HSE regions recognise the value the SCAN service provides and have in some areas reconfigured posts to develop SCAN independent from ministerial funding.
SCAN services are being implemented on a phased basis in line with this Model of Care and funding received. Services are currently established nationally, with further expansion funded under Budget 2026 to extend provision to additional areas. This approach reflects the progressive development of a nationally consistent community-based response to self-harm and suicide related ideation. The table below show the national coverage of SCAN by HSE region and then by County;
|
Regional Health Area |
Adult SCAN |
Under 18 years |
Traveller |
Total |
|
HSE Dublin and North East |
6 |
4 |
0 |
10 |
|
HSE Dublin and Midlands |
6 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
|
HSE Dublin and South East |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
HSE South West |
6 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
|
HSE Mid-West |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
|
HSE West and North West |
7 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
|
SCAN GP Service |
WTE’s Funded to date |
|
Waterford |
2 |
|
Laois |
1 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
Cork |
4 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
|
Louth |
1 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
|
Galway Traveller Community |
2 |
|
Galway Adult |
3 |
|
Cork Under 18 |
2 |
|
CAMHS North Dublin |
4 |
|
Donegal Under 18 |
2 |
|
Kerry |
2 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
|
Dublin South Adult |
2 |
|
Dublin North /North City Under 18 |
2 |
|
North Dublin Adult |
2 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
|
Total |
46 |
Evaluations of SCAN
The SCAN service was first established in South Dublin in 2007 as a pilot project, and subsequently in Wexford the following year. The success of these projects, as shown by detailed and comprehensive evaluation report by the HSE in 2012, and a subsequent review completed for National Office Suicide Prevention (NOSP) in 2019 (Griffin et al 2019b) led to the SCAN service being rolled out nationally as part of the National Clinical Programme in February 2022. The SCAN service also conforms to the key recommendations of Sharing the Vision, our national mental health policy and Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide, as well as numerous other government and Health Service Executive (HSE) policy and guidance documents.
Following the integration of SCAN into the NCPSHI in 2022, an independent external evaluation has not yet been completed. Assurance during this period has been provided through internal programme monitoring, governance arrangements and oversight structures.
Data Collection, Incident Management and Consistency of Care
Data relating to self-harm and suicide-related ideation is supported by a Data Manager on the NCPSHI team.
The Model of Care for SCAN includes nationally agreed KPIs designed to support service consistency and quality. These include, among others:
• timely clinical assessment in line with the Model of Care
• development and provision of an individualised care plan
• communication of assessment outcomes to the referring GP
• follow-up contact with service users following assessment
• involvement of family members or a supportive adult, where appropriate
Performance against these indicators is monitored through programme governance structures. Consolidated national reporting on KPI performance will be included in the forthcoming national SCAN report.
Data governance and validation fall within the remit of the data management function of the NCP SHI. Nationally standardised SCAN data collection commenced in 2025. As a result, nationally consolidated dataset is not available for 2023 or 2024.
SCAN Data system – CASTOR
The SCAN database is designed specifically to capture information on presentations of self-harm and suicide related ideation accepted for assessment within the SCAN services. By definition, SCAN operates as a targeted, GP linked pathway of care for a clearly defined clinical cohort, rather than as an open access service accepting referrals from multiple sources. Accordingly, all SCAN presentations are GP patients, and the referring context is implicitly defined by eligibility for the service.
The year 2025 marked the first time that SCAN data was collected under the auspices of the NCPSHI. This data is currently being analysed, and a full report on the dataset and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the SCAN service will be published later this year. In the interim please see the total referrals to SCAN 2025 in the table below.
Annual Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse presentation numbers and unique individuals in 2025:
|
SCAN Services |
Presentation Numbers |
Individuals |
|
All SCAN services1 |
1146 |
1125 |
|
Under 18 SCAN services2 |
174 |
169 |
1There were 15 SCAN services reporting in 2025; 1 service provided partial year only (commenced September). 2There were 2 SCAN services exclusively for under 18-years-olds.
It should be furter noted that:
The database includes only self-harm and suicidal-related ideation presentations accepted for assessment by Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) services from 2025 onwards. A presentation refers to a single episode of self-harm or suicidal ideation; therefore, repeat presentations by the same individual are counted separately. Using a unique patient pseudo-anonymised code the number of unique patients is captured in the database.
Although all presentations originate as GP referrals to a single point of triage, most SCAN services receive these referrals directly. In some cases, however, referrals are routed via CMHT or CAMHS. This level of detail is not captured in the current SCAN database. Demographic and clinical information, including age, is recorded for assessed presentations only. As part of standard quality procedures, all data are reviewed for completeness, internal logic, and consistency across variables before being added to the national database.
The NCPSHI uses the cloud-based clinical data management platform, CASTOR Electronic Data Capture (CASTOR EDC, shortened to CASTOR). CASTOR is a secure, data management platform designed for clinical research. CASTOR enables efficient and accurate data collection, storage, and monitoring, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while facilitating streamlined data management processes. CASTOR meets all European Union standards related to secure storage of health research data. The use of CASTOR is intended to streamline data collection, analysis, and reporting while ensuring data accuracy and accessibility. Accurate data allows the programme to benchmark the clinical standards in practice, review trends and influence policy and service development. Full training and associated manuals are provided to all new staff using CASTOR. The data form was developed by NCPSHI Data Manager within CASTOR database. The CASTOR tool complies fully with all the internal requirements of the HSE and is approved for use. The licence was initially funded for 3 years at a total cost of €24,732 in total. The total costs falls below the procurement levels set at the time. It was funded from Dec 2024 – November 2027. The platform went live in January 2025 following extensive building of the data form, training and quality controls.
The current dataset reflects presentations that are accepted and managed within the SCAN pathway. Referrals that are redirected or managed through other services at local level are not captured in the national SCAN dataset.
As part of standard quality procedures, all data are reviewed for completeness, internal logic, and consistency across variables before being added to the national database.
With regard to the collection of data concerning the SCAN service, the Operational Guidance document indicates that the objectives of the SCAN service include collecting and inputting data into the NCPSHI national database, participating in clinical audits and evaluations of the SCAN service, and participating in training and network events organised by NCPSHI. For more information the operational guidance document can be found at the following
link: https://assets.hse.ie/media/documents/NCPSHI_Operational_Guidance_Docu ment_for_the_Suicide_Crisis_Assessment_Nurse_SCAN.pdf
On the basis of the first full year of nationally consolidated data (2025):
• 1,146 presentations were recorded nationally;
• these related to 1,125 individual service users; and
• 174 presentations involved individuals under 18 years of age. These figures provide an initial national baseline for SCAN activity.
Quality and Patient Safety
Adverse incidents relating to suicide and self-harm are recorded through the HSE’s National Incident Management System (NIMS). In 2025, national guidance was introduced for the review of deaths reported as suspected suicide in community mental health services, to support consistent, proportionate and compassionate review processes.
Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) is an important aspect of performance and, as a result, forms a key part of monthly Departmental performance engagements with the HSE. QPS metrics are received on a quarterly basis and reviewed by the Department of Health and HSE as part of these engagements. These QPS metrics are drawn from NIMS.
Mechanisms to support consistency in the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and self-harm in primary care include the revised 2022 Model of Care for NCPSHI and the 2024 Operational Guidance Document for the SCAN service, which sets out a standardised approach to SCAN implementation aligned with the national Model of Care.
The Model of Care sets out eligibility criteria, operating procedures, clinical governance arrangements and workforce requirements. Oversight is provided through the NCPSHI, supported by the NCGAL Office
SCAN clinicians are employed by the HSE and operate within established professional governance frameworks, including clinical supervision, professional accountability and adherence to national clinical guidance. Services participate in routine programme monitoring and internal governance processes, supported by regional and national oversight structures.
Finally, regarding the governance and oversight of the NCPSHSI within the Department of Health, regular performance meetings are held between the Department of Health and the HSE at which governance, performance and progress of HSE Mental Health Services is discussed, and any issues of concern are escalated for attention through the Performance and Accountability Framework.
