Dual diagnosis services delayed but expected shortly

The initial adult dual diagnosis (DD) services under the new model of care have been delayed but are due to be established in the coming months, the Medical Independent (MI) has been informed.

DD commonly refers to the presence of co-existing mental health and substance use disorders.

A spokesperson for the HSE told MI that DD services in the mid-west (Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 3 and Cork and Kerry (CHO 4) are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2024.

In August 2023, this newspaper reported that the teams for CHO 3 and CHO 4 were due to be operational by the end of 2023/early 2024.

The CHO 3 DD team will have a total of 12 whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff.

“Eight WTEs have been recruited and the remaining four posts will be considered as part of the overall local pay and numbers strategy,” according to the spokesperson.

In CHO 4, seven WTEs have been recruited to the DD team. “Some of them await derogation to join the team,” the spokesperson added. A further three WTEs are expected to be recruited by the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, seven WTEs have been resourced this year for a HSE team in Dublin north city and county (CHO 1) that supports young people with substance abuse issues.  This follows the recruitment of a clinical nurse specialist for the team last year. The additional staff are to help the service to evolve into an adolescent DD team.

Another seven WTEs have also been resourced to enhance the HSE youth drug and alcohol services team in Dublin south, Kildare and west Wicklow (CHO 7) in its transition into an adolescent DD team.

“The HSE Dual Diagnosis National Clinical Programme will continue to seek further resources in the coming years for the establishment of dual diagnosis services across the country,” stated the HSE spokesperson.

MI previously revealed that the Keltoi centre at St Mary’s Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin, has been earmarked to serve as the national DD rehabilitation centre. The building was previously utilised as a drug rehabilitation centre. It closed in March 2020 to serve as a Covid-19 isolation facility.

When asked for an update, the HSE spokesperson said submissions are being made for the resources required to establish the facility as the national centre in the forthcoming Budget.

Additional inpatient beds were recommended in the model of care document, published in May 2023.

These are being considered under the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024-2031.