Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2007
135 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients who have been subjected to ECT treatments in the past five years; the breakdown of the figures by the number of sessions per patient; the number that were voluntary and the number that were forced. [3195/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation on the use of Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) is not currently collected in the format requested by the Deputy. The 2002 and 2003 Reports of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals provide information on the prescription of ECT. In 2002, the number of patients prescribed ECT was 1,021 and in 2003 this figure had reduced to 749. These figures do not differentiate between voluntary and involuntary patients or the number of sessions per patient. Section 59 of the Mental Health Act 2001 which provides for the administration of ECT was commenced on the 1 November, 2006 and rules in relation to the use of ECT were issued by the Mental Health Commission in November 2006. The rules require an ECT register to be completed for each involuntary patient at the conclusion of a programme of ECT and a copy placed in the patient's clinical file. This register must be made accessible to the Inspector of Mental Health Services and the Mental Health Commission upon request. If an involuntary patient is unable or unwilling to give consent, the Mental Health Act 2001 requires the authorisation of a second consultant psychiatrist. The Mental Health Commission rules also outline requirements in relation to consent and information. The administration of ECT without consent must be recorded in the patient's clinical file and a copy sent to the Mental Health Commission.
136 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people committed under the Mental Health Act 2001 who have signed voluntary admission papers before the 21 day appeal period is up. [3196/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mental Health Act 2001 does not require patients who have been admitted involuntarily to sign a voluntary admission form if the involuntary nature of the admission is altered. Section 28 of the Act allows for the discharge of patients by the responsible consultant psychiatrist if he or she is of the opinion that the patient no longer has a mental disorder. When discharging a patient under this section the consultant psychiatrist must notify the patient concerned and his or her legal representative in a form specified by the Mental Health Commission that he or she is being discharged and is entitled to have his or her detention reviewed by a mental health tribunal. The consultant psychiatrist must also notify the Mental Health Commission of such revocations of the admission/renewal order. The patient concerned may leave or choose to remain in the approved centre on a voluntary basis. In the first two months following the full commencement of the Act, November and December 2006, the Mental Health Commission received notification of 249 revocations before hearings. It is important to note that these included a number of patients who had been detained under the Mental Treatment Act 1945. I have requested the Mental Health Commission to respond directly to the Deputy with the number of patients discharged under Section 28 of the Mental Health Act 2001 who remain in the approved centre on a voluntary basis.
137 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of mental health tribunals that have sat; and their verdicts. [3197/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the first two months following the full commencement of the Mental Health Act 2001, November and December 2006, a total of 175 mental health tribunals were held. 151 mental health tribunals affirmed the involuntary admission orders and 24 mental health tribunals revoked the involuntary admission orders.
