Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
1076. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health in respect of the 2022 Women’s Health Action Plan, if he will report on his Department’s achievement of the maternal health goal of embedding perinatal mental health services in all maternity units. [44224/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1077. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health in respect of the 2022 Women’s Health Action Plan, if he will report on his Department’s achievement of the maternal health goal of progressing the first mother and baby unit for mothers who require inpatient mental health supports. [44225/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1076 and 1077 together.
Improving the outcomes and experiences of women in relation to perinatal mental health has been a priority for me and for the HSE since I became Minister. We have achieved great strides in Women’s Health since the launch of the first Women’s Health Action Plan in 2022 and the launch of the second Women’s Health Action Plan in April 2024.
In relation to perinatal mental health, these services are now available in all 19 maternity services nationwide.
The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services Model of Care, launched in 2017, is based on 6 Hub sites (multidisciplinary teams in Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Cork, Limerick) and 13 spoke sites.
6 consultant-led Multi-Disciplinary teams are in place in the hub sites. Perinatal mental health midwife posts are now in place across all the 19 sites (hub and spoke).
A Steering Group has been established to refresh the Model of Care, and the Department of Health is currently considering issues raised separately in the National Women’s Council (NWC) report on Perinatal Mental Services. The Department of Health will work closely with the HSE to strengthen the Model of Care where required, to address the gaps highlighted by the report.
With regard to the development of a Mother and Baby Unit for Ireland, this is a key element of the Model of Care and progressing the Unit is a priority for me, the Department of Health and for the HSE. The HSE is currently preparing a feasibility study on building such a Unit on the Elm Park site at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin. This is expected to be finalised in the near future. This would include all relevant estimated costs and timescales for the Unit, which will be then considered in due course under the HSE Capital Plan.
