Results 301-309 of 309 for speaker:Keith Swanick
- Seanad: Illegal Drugs: Motion (13 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: I will be very brief. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Bryne, for her comprehensive response and her support for the motion.I compliment the Minister of State on her efforts. I am fully convinced that she is a very solution-driven, pragmatic, motivated and hands-on individual. On a personal level, I would never criticise her efforts and I appreciate what she has done. It is...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (20 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He is probably aware of the desperate situation regarding ambulance services in rural areas. Councillor Erin McGreehan from Louth recently raised with me the specific issue of ambulances in the Omeath area of north County Louth. At present no ambulances are operating in this district of the county. It has been revealed that ambulance services...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (20 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. While the ambulance is based in Belmullet, if the ambulance is not available locally we have to get an ambulance down from Castlebar or Ballina. Returning to north County Louth, I would like the Minister of State to consider expanding the co-operation with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Places such as Omeath are only...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Mental Healthcare Sector: Discussion (20 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: I understand the Mental Health Commission's remit covers inpatient acute units and patients detained against their will. Does the commission have information on how we compare with international standards with regard to access to child and adolescent mental health teams?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Mental Healthcare Sector: Discussion (20 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: Even accessing the service can be difficult. I am a GP and if I see a teenager who may be depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and I am sure the Chairman will agree with me, I send the patient off and refer him or her in good faith. Often the team reviewing the referral states it is inappropriate. One professional doctor refers somebody who genuinely needs help and the referral is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Mental Healthcare Sector: Discussion (20 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: Does Dr. Finnerty have a comment on the fact that child and adolescent mental health teams undermine professional referrals from GPs that are sent in good faith after assessing a child? The GP would not refer the child to the mental health services unless he or she had a serious concern. Often GPs receive a letter stating the referral was inappropriate and asking whether the doctor had seen...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Mental Healthcare Sector: Discussion (20 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: If an appropriate referral is sent in it should be accepted in good faith. This is the problem. People are falling through the cracks. They are being referred to psychological services when they need psychiatric services.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Mental Healthcare Sector: Discussion (20 Nov 2019)
Keith Swanick: I understand that and I understand there are manpower problems. I totally understand all of this. I understand they are not second guessing clinical decisions. I am only concerned about the patients and I am afraid people are falling through the cracks who should not be and they are not getting the appropriate services. Sometimes the way the child and adolescent mental health service...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)
Keith Swanick: Today, the faculty of paediatrics of the Royal College of Physicians called on the Government to abolish the system of direct provision for asylum seekers because the welfare of children is at stake. The author of the report issued today, Dr. Niamh O'Brien, stated the system is unethical, stigmatising and needs to end. Children in direct provision present with increased mental health issues...