Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
398. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have died while in the care of psychiatric inpatient facilities in the State in each of the years 2009 to 2013, inclusive; the number of these who had absconded at the time of their deaths. [35820/14]
View answerThe Mental Health Commission collects demographic and clinical data in relation to the death of any resident in an approved centre and any sudden unexplained death of a person attending a day hospital, day centre or 24 hour staffed residence. Under the Mental Health Commission Code of Practice for Mental Health Services on Notification of Deaths and Incident Reporting, approved centres are required to report all deaths to the Commission within 48 hours, in accordance with the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centres) Regulations 2006, S. I. no. 551 of 2006.
The number of deaths of patients, who have died while in the care of psychiatric in-patient facilities in the State, notified to the Commission are as follows:
Number of Deaths in Approved Centres 2009 – 2013
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Total |
172 |
162 |
141 |
174 |
156 |
The Commission does not have information on the number of patients who had absconded at the time of their death. Therefore, I have referred this part of the question to the HSE for attention direct reply to the Deputy.
