Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of involuntary admissions to approved centres that took place in November and December 2006 in terms of psychiatric healthcare; the number of the admission orders relating to these admissions that led to a full review by a mental health tribunal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6234/07]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases where admission orders were revoked in regard to the reviews by tribunals under the Mental Health Act 2001, in respect of involuntary admissions in November and December 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6235/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 204 together.

In the first two months following the full commencement of the Mental Health Act 2001, i.e. November and December 2006, there were 207 involuntary admissions to approved centres. In the same period, a total of 175 mental health tribunals were held. 151 mental health tribunals affirmed the involuntary admission/renewal orders and 24 mental health tribunals revoked the involuntary admission/renewal orders. It is important to note that the total number of tribunals held in this period includes tribunals held for both patients who had, on 1 November 2006, been detained under the Mental Treatment Act 1945 and patients who were involuntarily admitted to an approved centre under the Mental Health Act 2001 in November and December 2006.

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. The consultant psychiatrist must notify the patient concerned and his or her legal representative of the entitlement to have his or her detention reviewed by a mental health tribunal if he or she so indicates to the Mental Health Commission within 14 days of the date of his or her discharge. During November and December 2006, 249 involuntary admission or renewal orders were revoked before the hearing of the mental health tribunal occurred. It is important to note that these included a number of patients who had been detained under the Mental Treatment Act 1945.

The Mental Health Commission has published activity statistics relating to involuntary admissions and mental health tribunal hearings on its website and will update this information on a monthly basis.