Press release
Minister Butler clarifies scope of CAMHS Audit
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Arising from the Maskey Report, the ongoing audit of medication practice is an independently chaired audit to include random selection of 50 charts or proportionate to the medical caseload at CHO/CAMHS team level from a continuous 6-month predefined period.
An Expert Audit Group has been established, chaired by Dr. Colette Halpin. The audit tool and methodology have been finalised and a pilot has now commenced in 4 CHO Areas. The audit will be complete by Q4 2022.
HSE expert clinical advice was that an immediate audit of assessment and prescribing practice for ADHD be undertaken, in line with the findings of the Maskey Report.
While the HSE preference was for the audit of prescribing practice to focus on ADHD, I requested the HSE audit be based on a random sample of case files to include any and all diagnoses. The HSE therefore agreed that the audit of prescribing practice would be expanded to include a review of prescribing for other diagnoses and medications.
This is an audit of Mental Health Services, and within that specifically CAMHS services. The purpose of this audit is to satisfy, that children who are attending CAMHS services and who are on medication from the service, are prescribed medication according to the best practice guidelines.
Most of the children with primary diagnosis of autism are treated by disability services and primary care. There is no medication for the treatment of primary Autism. If a child has any mental health symptoms and are attending CAMHS services, and are on medication, they are included in this clinical audit.
Separately, Mental Health Intellectual Disability (MHID) would be covered under the Audit, as appropriate. The methodology of the audit is that children with ASD who are on a CAMHS caseload may be selected for inclusion in the audit, based on the random nature of the selection process.