3. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being: Progress on ‘Together for Mental Health’ Delivery Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:22 pm on 12 October 2021.

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Photo of Mabon ap Gwynfor Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru 3:22, 12 October 2021

(Translated)

Minister, 10 years ago, a constituent of mine saw a decline in mental health, which meant that he had to go for specialist care. He was prescribed anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs, and he's been using them since that time. Despite that, he hasn't had a review of that medication since that very early period, over 10 years ago. He went for a review to the local hospital but he was told that he would have to have a referral from a GP. The GP, in turn, said that he couldn't help because he couldn't prescribe or change such medication. So, the patient was in a cycle.

Can you ensure that you put clear guidance in place as to how often anti-psychotic medication should be reviewed, and who can review it, and that patients who are in very vulnerable situations have a clear and simple understanding of the nature of the medicine, how often it will be reviewed, and who will carry out that review, avoiding a situation where a patient is pushed from one part of the health service to another without anyone taking responsibility, and patients being lost in the system?