University Hospital Waterford is among ten hospitals nationwide set to receive a dedicated specialist mental health crisis nursing team as part of a major investment in out-of-hours mental health services.
The Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, has announced the commencement of recruitment for the new teams, which will provide specialist support to people presenting to emergency departments in mental health crisis.
Recruitment is now underway, with the Health Service Executive and hospital management working to have the new services operational as soon as possible.
Each hospital will receive a team of four specialist nurses, comprising two Advanced Nurse Practitioners and two Clinical Nurse Specialists. The teams will operate outside normal working hours, supporting patients experiencing severe distress, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
The initiative forms part of a wider programme of mental health crisis service reform under the national Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life (2026–2035) strategies.
More than €15 million was allocated for crisis supports and targeted suicide prevention measures in Budget 2026, including €2.8 million to establish the new out-of-hours mental health crisis nursing teams in all Model 4 hospitals and Mercy University Hospital in Cork.
Announcing the recruitment drive, Minister Butler said people presenting to emergency departments including University Hospital Waterford during a mental health crisis need timely, compassionate and specialist care.
“When someone comes to an emergency department in the midst of a mental health crisis, they need timely, compassionate and specialist support. These new nursing teams will help ensure that people experiencing severe distress, self-harm or suicidal thoughts can access the care they need, when they need it most.”
She said the new teams would support frontline hospital staff during evening and overnight hours, when many mental health crisis presentations occur.
Minister Butler added that improving crisis mental health services is one of her key priorities for 2026, with investment also being made in community-based Crisis Resolution Teams, Crisis or “Solace” Cafés and Suicide Crisis Assessment Nursing teams to provide support closer to home.
