Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

In my first six months as a TD, I have been asked to intervene in four emergency mental health cases for constituents in Dublin South-Central. Three were for severe eating disorders where the patient's family feared for their survival if appropriate treatment was not provided immediately. The fourth acute patient simply sought a second medical opinion but was discouraged by the HSE at every stage. In all cases, the patients and their families felt they were not being heard by treating physicians and the scenarios were so dire I had to involve a Minister of State's office to procure emergency mental health attention and specialist assessment for the patients. Patients with life-threatening illnesses are having difficulty obtaining appropriate care. I am asking for an update on specialists in the eating disorder section. Why is the HSE not adhering to its national consent policy and established case law to respect a patient's choice to seek a second opinion?

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