Paracetamol rules ‘useless’ in preventing suicides

THE regulations on the sale of paracetamol tablets are “practically useless” in preventing suicide attempts, psychiatric nurses have warned.

At the annual conference of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) in Limerick yesterday, chairman Liam McNamara will call for a review of the paracetamol regulations.

He will also describe the Government decision to halve spending on suicide prevention and research in the last budget from €1.11 million to €655,000 as "nothing short of criminal".

Although purchases are confined to packs containing 24 tablets of paracetamol or less, they are readily available in shops and supermarkets.

"This is a very dangerous drug, particularly taken with other drugs, including alcohol. It can lead to acute liver problems and even death. Vulnerable groups contemplating suicide know this and its availability needs to be restricted for this reason," said Mr McNamara.

A recent study by the National Suicide Review Foundation of A&E departments in the South Eastern Health Board Region examined around 1,100 cases of attempted self-harm.

Overdoses accounted for 76% of the attempts, with paracetamol used in almost a third of cases. Ireland has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

In the first nine months of 2003, the most recent figures available, 298 people committed suicide. The total for 2002 was 451, with over 80% of cases involving males. Mr McNamara will also outline the other funding problems which has led to a "crisis" in the psychiatric service.

It now receives 6.8% of the total health service budget a drop of 56.5% since 1976. Mr McNamara says nursing posts have been cut by 28% with 150 jobs lost in the last 12 months.

This has resulted in a lack of mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities, the elderly and refugees. There is also a lack of services for the 300,000 people with depressive disorders.

The Mental Health Commission recently said the sector was "unsatisfactorily financed", considering that up to 30% of all health disability is related to mental health problems. Psychiatric nurses are also concerned about the delay in implementing a 'no fault' scheme which would provide automatic compensation for staff assaulted by patients.

At a meeting with Health Minister Micheál Martin last month, the PNA was told that the Attorney General and the Department of Finance were concerned the scheme might apply to other public servants.

The PNA said the most recent figures 1,600 assaults on nurses in 2001 showed the legitimate need for the scheme.

"The level of assaults on nurses dictates we cannot tolerate a change of mind on the minister's behalf," said Mr McNamara. The PNA is threatening to escalate its campaign if the scheme is not introduced.