Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2014
198. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the numbers of patients, broken down by status as either voluntary or involuntary patients, who have been subjected to electroconvulsive therapy without their express consent in each inpatient acute psychiatric unit, for each year from 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30507/14]
View answerThe Mental Health Act, 2001 includes a range of safeguards to ensure that the rights of people who are admitted involuntarily for psychiatric care and treatment are protected. In relation to the administration of ECT, section 59 of the Act requires that a patient must consent in writing to the treatment unless he or she is unable or unwilling to give consent, the treatment may then be administered if it has been approved by the consultant psychiatrist responsible for the care and treatment of the patient, and also authorised by another consultant psychiatrist. ECT remains a recognised treatment for severe mental illness. The Mental Health Commission has published rules regarding the administration of ECT and adherence to these rules is monitored on an annual basis by the Inspector of Mental Health Services.
Information on the numbers treated with ECT is collected by the Mental Health Commission. The following table shows the number of patients who have had ECT for the years 2011 - end June 2014. The second table lists the approved centres in which ECT was performed, for each of those years. The Commission does not provide specific details of the number of ECT treatments for each centre as this information may potentially enable patients to be identified.
Treatment without Consent Electroconvulsive Therapy (Adult) from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2014
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Legal Status of Patient |
- |
- |
Reason for Lack of Consent |
|
Year |
No. Approved Centres Administrated ECT |
No of Individual Patients |
Involuntary |
Voluntary |
Unable |
Unwilling |
Other* |
|
2014 (1 Jan – 30 June) |
6 |
15 |
16 |
0 |
14 |
2 |
0 |
|
2013 |
12 |
34 |
36 |
0 |
32 |
1 |
3 |
|
2012 |
14 |
27 |
28 |
0 |
24 |
1 |
3 |
|
2011 |
13 |
22 |
25 |
0 |
18 |
3 |
4 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2014 and 2013 Data undergoing validation with services and may be subject to minor amendments |
- |
- |
* Treating CP indicated unable/Another CP indicated unwilling
Treating CP indicated unwilling/Another CP indicated unable
Treating CP indicated unwilling & unable/Another CP indicated unable
Treatment without consent Electroconvulsive Therapy (Adult) from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2014
|
Year |
Names of Approved Centres |
|
2014 |
Avonmore & Glencree Units, Newcastle Hospital |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Letterkenny General Hospital |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Galway |
|
- |
Elm Mount Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital |
|
- |
St Patrick's University Hospital |
|
2013 |
Acute Psychiatric Unit 5B, University Hospital Limerick |
|
- |
Acute Psychiatric Unit, AMNCH (Tallaght) Hospital |
|
- |
Admission Unit & St Edna's Ward, St Loman's Hospital, Mullingar |
|
- |
Adult Mental Health Unit, Mayo General Hospital |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Letterkenny General Hospital |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny |
|
- |
Elm Mount Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital |
|
- |
Jonathan Swift Clinic |
|
- |
St Edmundsbury Hospital |
|
- |
St Patrick's University Hospital |
|
- |
St Vincent's Hospital – St Louise's, St Mary's, St Teresa's, & Psychiatry of Old Age Wards |
|
2012 |
Acute Psychiatric Unit, AMNCH (Tallaght) Hospital |
|
- |
Admission Unit & St Edna's Ward, St Loman's Hospital, Mullingar |
|
- |
Adult Mental Health Unit, Mayo General Hospital |
|
- |
Clonfert Ward & St Luke's Ward, St Brigid's Hospital, Ballinalsoe |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Letterkenny General Hospital |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Waterford Regional Hospital |
|
- |
Elm Mount Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital |
|
- |
Highfield Hospital |
|
- |
Jonathan Swift Clinic |
|
- |
St Aloysius Ward, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
|
- |
St John of God Hospital Limited |
|
- |
St Patrick's University Hospital |
|
2011 |
Elm Mount Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital |
|
- |
Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital |
|
- |
Acute Psychiatric Unit, AMNCH, Tallaght |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise |
|
- |
St Aloysius Ward, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, Connolly Hospital |
|
- |
South Lee Mental Health Unit, Cork University Hospital |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny |
|
- |
Acute Psychiatric Unit, Midwestern Regional Hospital, Ennis |
|
- |
St Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe |
|
- |
Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital Galway |
|
- |
St John of God Hospital |
|
- |
St Patrick's Hospital |
