Derry crisis service ‘on brink of collapse’

The move comes after assertions by the Department of Health (DoH) that it cannot fund the critical service sparked dismay among politicians in Derry.

With the clock ticking until funding for the life-saving CIS runs out at the end of June, the matter was discussed at the Council’s monthly meeting yesterday.

A motion tabled by Sinn Féin Colr. Sandra Duffy calling for the immediate intervention of Mr. Swann, and amended by SDLP Colr. Martin Reilly to broaden additional responsibility onto the NI Executive, was unanimously backed last night.

Colr. Duffy said the CIS was a “vital service for those experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis” and “falls under the Protect Life 2 strategy and as such should be funded by the Department”.

Colr. Duffy said: “This service has proven it does save lives and I think we owe it to the citizens of this city and district to do what we can to save it.”

The Crisis Intervention Service pilot was set up after years of grassroots campaigning by local people, including bereaved families and other people personally affected, for a facility to help people in crisis at the point of need.

It was funded initially by Derry City & Strabane District Council in conjunction with Foyle Search & Rescue with additional funding from the Western Trust, Ulster University and the Health and Social Care Board in order to get it up and running.

The current funding threat was also raised yesterday by SDLP Foyle MLA Mark Durkan and East Derry MLA Cara Hunter.

Mr. Durkan has written to Mr. Swann, warning that the crucial mental health service is at “risk of collapse” without immediate intervention.

A spokesperson for the DoH however said that the Protect Life 2 budget is “already fully committed”, and that “no additional funding is available to support new initiatives at this time”.

MLAS for Foyle and East Derry have warned that the ‘hard won’ Crisis Intervention Service in Derry must be protected as it faces a funding crisis.

Foyle SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said: “The Crisis Intervention Centre in Derry is at the brink of collapse- this is not new information and has been apparent for quite some time now. The service is struggling on a shoestring budget to provide critical support to our most vulnerable.

“This badly and sadly needed service was hard-won and must be protected at all costs.

“The Health Minister has reiterated his steadfast commitment to bettering mental health here but we need to see action on these promises.”

SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter has also urged Ministers to work together to fund the service describing it as “absolutely critical”.

She said: “It is well known that the suicide rates here in the North are the highest in Britain and Ireland, and indeed some of the highest rates in Europe. It is unconscionable that Executive Ministers would allow this critical service to go under.”

Responding to Mr Durkan’s comments, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said that as the pilot service was led by Derry & Strabane Council it was for the Council to decided on its future.

“The Department participated in a recent multi-agency meeting to establish if future provision of the service is viable,” the spokesperson said, adding: “The Protect Life 2 budget is already fully committed and there are a wide range of projects already requiring funding under the Strategy.

“The Department is facing a funding shortfall to maintain its existing services in addition to the need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, no additional funding is available to support new initiatives at this time. The project is funded until June 2020.”

The spokesperson added; “A workstream is being established under the Protect Life 2 Strategy to consider options around future provision of this type of service.”