Vol. 517 No. 3
183 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on reported difficulties experienced by GPs in securing Garda escorts for mentally ill patients; and, the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in this regard. [9548/00]
In his reports for the years 1997 and 1998, the inspector of mental hospitals acknowledged that involvement by the Garda in conveying patients to hospital varied between catchment areas. There is general agreement among all parties concerned that the current arrangements for conveying mentally ill patients to hospital are unsatisfactory. The Mental Health Bill, which is before the Dáil this week, contains new provisions for conveying mentally ill patients who are to be detained involuntarily to hospital.
These new provisions will clarify the circumstances in which the Garda may be called upon to assist mental health services staff in the escort of patients to hospital. Officials of my Department are in ongoing discussions with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform regarding these provisions.
