Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 1

Written Answers - Patient Statistics.

Enda Kenny

Question:

97 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons treated for paracetemol poisoning here in each of the past five years; the number of those who were diagnosed as having a liver condition; if he has assessed the recommendations of the Irish Medicines Board in this regard; his proposals for their implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13375/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The HIPE – Hospital In-Patient Enquiry – scheme of the ESRI is a computer-based health information system designed to collect clinical, and administrative data regarding discharges and deaths from acute public hospitals. Recent statistics received from HIPE indicate that the number of patients discharged from hospital with a princi pal or secondary diagnosis of paracetamol poisoning in the period 1996 to 1999 inclusive is as follows:

1996	1997	1998	1999
1445	1629	1470	1447

The figure for the year 2000 is not yet available.

The number of patients discharged from hospital with a principal or secondary diagnosis of paracetamol poisoning and with a principal or secondary diagnosis of liver disease for the above period is as follows:

1996	1997	1998	1999
24	21	28	48

I have assessed the recommendations of the Irish Medicines Board in this regard. On 12 April, 2001 I made regulations, titled Medicinal Products (Control of Paracetamol) Regulations, 2001 – S.I. No. 150 of 2001 – which give statutory effect to the recommendations of the board. These regulations will come into effect on 1 October 2001.