Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - Alcohol Abuse.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

186 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the treatment facilities which are available for people suffering from alcoholism; his views on whether people who need treatment in the Cavan/Monaghan area should have to seek treatment in Northern Ireland, Galway or the Midlands without aid from the North Eastern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20427/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

National policy on the treatment of alcohol abuse, as set out in Planning for the Future, stipulates that the emphasis in the management of alcohol-related problems should be on community based intervention rather than on specialist inpatient treatment.

The provision of services for the treatment of alcohol-related problems in the NEHB is based on the board's strategy document on alcoholism and addiction. The development of services has been community based with particular emphasis on early intervention and close links with the primary care services. Detoxification is now predominantly home based and is supervised by general practitioners. Admissions to general medical wards take place in a small number of cases and occasional admissions to St. Davnet's Hospital take place where there are major behavioural problems or in the context of psychiatric morbidity.

Health boards generally are also considering ways in which services provided by voluntary and/or private facilities might integrate with their services. In this connection, the NEHB has made arrangements to enable access to specialist in-patient treatment facilities in the small number of cases where the need arises.