Edwin Poots MLA and Deputy Mayor of Lisburn.

That probably means what it says: the more severe psychiatric episodes are dealt with at the Ulster Hospital, so the more intensive care and treatment will be provided at that centre.  That is in line with all previous recommendations and with Transforming Your Care, in that psychiatric facilities should be developed alongside hospitals that have all services available. 

Sadly, many people who have psychiatric conditions and mental health conditions self-harm.  They have other ailments and conditions, which is why it is believed that the unit is best suited to being beside a major hospital.  Aside from that, Bamford was very clear that we should reduce stigma, and there will be less stigma if the centre is incorporated in a major hospital as opposed to having stand-alone mental health units.

I thank the Member for her question.  In 2010, a new adolescent unit, which includes two intensive care beds, was opened at the Forster Green Hospital site.  A new 15-place child and family centre was opened at the same location in 2010, and an additional £1 million was provided in 2007-08 to create crisis intervention teams.  Annually, we make an investment in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) of around £19 million, and that follows additional investment in 2012-13 of £2·2 million in the development of primary mental health worker teams, crisis response home treatment services and forensic and gender identity services. 

The Department published 'Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services — A Service Model' in July 2012.  The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and trusts are working on an implementation plan to deliver that stepped model of care, and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority completed an independent review of CAMHS in Northern Ireland in 2010.  The report was published in February 2011, and it highlighted the progress being made in improving mental health services for children and young people.  However, it recognised that there was more to be done and made 38 recommendations for improvement.  Those are being taken forward by the HSCB and the trusts.

Mr Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I will answer questions 4, 6 and 12 together as they all relate to the future commissioning of paediatric congenital cardiac surgical (PCCS) services for the population of Northern Ireland.

I met the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Health, James Reilly TD, on 8 May 2013 to discuss whether there is any scope for flexibility in the location for the future delivery of this service.  I asked Minister Reilly to give consideration to a two-centre model, potentially providing PCCS services in both Belfast and Dublin.  Consideration of that proposal is continuing at official level to determine whether such a model would be feasible.  I will inform the Assembly of the outcome when I announce my decision, which I hope to expedite, on the future commissioning of the service.