To: Minister for Health
Mental Health Admissions
At present when a person who is very unwell with a mental health disorder presents at Accident and Emergency they are often left waiting for hours and often not admitted when they are eventually seen by a doctor. They are simply sent home,
In addition very often the person who is ill will not wait the duration to see a doctor. This may be for example be because they are experiencing a psychotic attack.
A dedicated mental health team should be on every night in A&E. Patients experiencing mental health issues should be fast tracked directly to Mental Health Team avoiding unnecessary and excessive waiting times.
If the Mental Health Team decide to discharge the patient there should be various criteria documented before this decision is made.
E,g. Has the person got a history of mental illness.
Has the person previously been admitted.
Is the person requesting to be admitted.
Has the person expressed suicide ideation or has said they are concerned they are suicidal.
Comments from anybody with the person should also be considered and documented as long as it is agreed by the potential patient.
A reason justifying the discharge
A clear plan be put in place if the person is to be discharged for example because of lack of beds. This should never be the reason but very sadly and unfortunately it is a common occurance.
The current Emergency Outpatients team should have far more resources and power so that patients can be seen asap by the team, initially at the hospital and thereafter in their home and continue to be seen daily until the patient is well.
This is extremely important as all to often a person with mental health issues presents at A&E is discharged and tragically takes their own life.
Additionally if intervention is immediate the chance of a fast recovery is much greater.
Furthermore overall the costs to the Public Services would be reduced.
In addition very often the person who is ill will not wait the duration to see a doctor. This may be for example be because they are experiencing a psychotic attack.
A dedicated mental health team should be on every night in A&E. Patients experiencing mental health issues should be fast tracked directly to Mental Health Team avoiding unnecessary and excessive waiting times.
If the Mental Health Team decide to discharge the patient there should be various criteria documented before this decision is made.
E,g. Has the person got a history of mental illness.
Has the person previously been admitted.
Is the person requesting to be admitted.
Has the person expressed suicide ideation or has said they are concerned they are suicidal.
Comments from anybody with the person should also be considered and documented as long as it is agreed by the potential patient.
A reason justifying the discharge
A clear plan be put in place if the person is to be discharged for example because of lack of beds. This should never be the reason but very sadly and unfortunately it is a common occurance.
The current Emergency Outpatients team should have far more resources and power so that patients can be seen asap by the team, initially at the hospital and thereafter in their home and continue to be seen daily until the patient is well.
This is extremely important as all to often a person with mental health issues presents at A&E is discharged and tragically takes their own life.
Additionally if intervention is immediate the chance of a fast recovery is much greater.
Furthermore overall the costs to the Public Services would be reduced.
Why is this important?
My brother who lived in London was taken to A&E by the police numerous times, was never seen and subsequently took his own life.
If the resources are simply not available. (This should never be the case.) Unfortunately however the budget for Mental Health is totally inadequate. This problem should be addressed separately.
Until underfunding within a hospital is properly addressed an interim measure should be adopted. The potential patient should be directed to the current Outpatient Emergency Team immediately.
This team can then make a Care Plan with the patient in the hospital and then arrange to see them the following day and continue to do so on a daily basis at their home until they are well. The resources available to inpatients in the hospital should also be offered to the outpatient. E,g Yoga, Meditation and various other activities
This would ultimately reduce the cost to the Department of Health.
Reduce the number of people self medicating with various substances
Reduce suicide levels.
Patients are seen rapidly and feel they are being cared for from outset
Numerous studies have shown that people often recover better in their own home
If the resources are simply not available. (This should never be the case.) Unfortunately however the budget for Mental Health is totally inadequate. This problem should be addressed separately.
Until underfunding within a hospital is properly addressed an interim measure should be adopted. The potential patient should be directed to the current Outpatient Emergency Team immediately.
This team can then make a Care Plan with the patient in the hospital and then arrange to see them the following day and continue to do so on a daily basis at their home until they are well. The resources available to inpatients in the hospital should also be offered to the outpatient. E,g Yoga, Meditation and various other activities
This would ultimately reduce the cost to the Department of Health.
Reduce the number of people self medicating with various substances
Reduce suicide levels.
Patients are seen rapidly and feel they are being cared for from outset
Numerous studies have shown that people often recover better in their own home
