Decade-old commitments on perinatal mental health care remain unfulfilled
Decade-old commitments on perinatal mental health care remain unfulfilled - The Labour Party
- The National Maternity Strategy recommended check-ups at two and four months, with further check-ups where needed. A decade later, those recommendations have yet to be implemented.
- The Model of Care for Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services called for specialist inpatient beds nine years ago. They have yet to open.
- Access to specialist services is being tightened because of staffing constraints, despite growing demand.
Labour health spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD has called on Government to urgently strengthen and resource specialist perinatal mental health services following a The Journal Investigates report on gaps in care.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“It is completely unacceptable that access to specialist perinatal mental health services is being tightened at a time of growing demand. Regional gaps in care must also be addressed. As The Journal Investigates reports, suicide is the leading cause of maternal and late maternal death. For some women, timely access to these services is a matter of life and death.
“The work done in recent years to expand perinatal mental health services across the 19 maternity units is welcome. But the Minister and the HSE must address the gaps that remain and ensure women can get support when they need it.
“Almost a decade after specialist inpatient beds were recommended, the beds planned for St Vincent’s Hospital have yet to open. Beds are also needed in Limerick. Mothers who need inpatient mental health care should not have to be separated from their babies because appropriate facilities are unavailable.
“There are serious gaps in primary care too. Early and sustained mental health support through a GP is critical, yet only one postnatal visit is covered. The National Maternity Strategy recommended check-ups at two and four months, and further check-ups where necessary. Ten years on, those recommendations remain unimplemented.
“A review of the Mother and Infant Care Scheme was due to be completed in 2023, but we have yet to see it. The previous review began in 1994 and was not published until 2007. This is completely unacceptable.
“The Year of Care campaign has rightly highlighted the need for mental health support beyond the six weeks covered by the Mother and Infant Care Scheme. Labour supports that call, and the Minister must act on it.
“The Minister must listen to mothers who have struggled to access the care they need. We need a clear timeline for opening the specialist inpatient beds and a plan to reduce waiting times. Mothers cannot be left waiting for help at such a vulnerable time in their lives.”