Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2008
196 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons admitted as involuntary patients to approved mental health centres in the six months ending on 30 June 2008; the number of these admissions who have had their cases reviewed by a tribunal; the number of cases where the tribunal has revoked the involuntary admission order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28088/08]
View answerThe Mental Health Commission arranges legal representation and an independent medical examination/report for patients who are subject to an involuntary admission order and the subsequent independent reviews are carried out by Mental Health Tribunals within strict statutory timescales.
The tables provides a summary of the number of orders and the subsequent independent reviews in the period 1st January to 30th May 2008.
|
January to May 2008 |
|
|
Form 6 Admissions |
602 |
|
Form 13 regrade of a voluntary patient |
230 |
|
Renewal Orders |
481 |
|
Proposals to transfer to Central Mental Hospital |
4 |
|
Hearings held |
818 |
|
Revoked at hearings |
81 |
The Mental Health Commission validates each month's activity in the first two weeks of the month following the period under evaluation. The figures for June 2008 are therefore currently being validated and will be forwarded to the Deputy when the validation process is complete.
197 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that the Mental Health Commission has established an investigation, or review, into patient care issues at a psychiatric hospital in south Tipperary; and if she will further confirm the date on which the report is expected to be published. [28089/08]
View answerIn June 2007 the Mental Health Commission decided to establish an inquiry into practices at the St. Michael's Unit, South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel and St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel, with the following terms of reference:
"To review care and treatment practices in St. Michael's Unit, South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel and St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel, including the quality and planning of care and the use of restraint and seclusion and to report to the Mental Health Commission".
It is understood that the inquiry is nearing conclusion and it is expected that the report will be presented to the Mental Health Commission shortly.
198 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the average cost of the conduct of the reviews which were considered by a tribunal under Section 18 of the Mental Health Act 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28090/08]
View answerThe gross fees paid in association with the operation of Mental Health Tribunals during 2007 was approximately €10.685 million.
During 2007 there were 3,443 statutory orders notified to the Mental Health Commission that potentially required review by a mental health tribunal. As a result of these notifications 2,248 mental health tribunal hearings were completed in 2007. This indicates an average of €3,103 per notification and €4,753 per hearing in 2007.
