Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has today (Friday, December 20th) announced a package of health and well-being supports for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes and Related Institutions.
The measures being announced today are based on the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Working Group, established earlier this year to examine the health recommendations contained in the First Report of the Collaborative Forum for Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and Related Institutions.
In announcing the package of supports, the Minister said:
I welcome the Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group, which was submitted and discussed at Cabinet yesterday, and am pleased to announce the provision of a package of health and well-being supports for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes.
The package of supports will include the provision of additional counselling services to help support the needs of former residents, the introduction of a dedicated patient advocacy liaison service for former residents and the commencement of a targeted health research study, which will assist in the development of any future service responses which may be required.
The Minister for Health established the Inter-Departmental Working Group earlier this year to examine the Collaborative Forum’s health recommendations, with the aim of developing proposals for an appropriate package of health and well-being supports for former residents. In undertaking their assessment, the Working Group sought to adequately and appropriately consider the specific needs of former residents, and importantly, provide a compassionate and holistic response to their health and well-being concerns.
Taking account of the Working Group’s recommendations and in recognition of former residents’ mental health and specific need for psychological support, additional counselling supports will be provided next year as part of the National Counselling Service in the HSE. A dedicated patient advocacy liaison service, which will act as a direct contact point of support for former residents, will also be established within the HSE. Finally, arrangements will be made to commence a targeted programme of health research, which will include individual health assessments of former residents to inform the broader research study, the aim of which will be to contribute to health and well-being policy and improve the health outcomes of former residents.
Minister Harris also said:
I am confident that the range of service supports now being provided will be of considerable benefit to former residents of Mother and Baby homes and will directly assist, in a practical way, the individual health needs of former residents.
Speaking following the Government meeting today, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone T.D. said: “I want to welcome and endorse the proposals outlined for this initial package of health and well-being measures dedicated to meeting the needs of former residents of mother and baby homes and related institutions. These proposals are grounded in a number of the specific recommendations and priority areas identified by former residents in their contributions to the work of the Collaborative Forum.
In bringing the recommendations of the Forum to Government, I made a strong case for proactive, compassionate and holistic response to the health and well-being concerns of former residents. I accept the strong rationale for the specific areas targeted in this first phase of investment, as detailed by my colleague Minister Harris today. In addition to meeting certain immediate needs, this rollout of these supports can provide an evidence base for informed decisions on the development of further targeted interventions to meet the needs of this group, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable. The package announced today is a strong signal that Government is listening to the voices of former residents. It demonstrates the value and importance of continued engagement through fora like the Collaborative Forum.