Psychiatrists seek to readmit patients released by tribunals

CONSULTANT psychiatrists are seeking fresh orders to involuntarily readmit mental health patients despite requests from mental health tribunals that these patients be released.

A recent report published in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine found that in a survey of consultant psychiatrists, 14% responded said they had sought to have a patient readmitted to care on medical grounds after a tribunal had ruled they should be released.

That report, written by Dr Brian O’Donoghue and Dr Paul Moran, and another report by staff at the Department of Adult Psychiatry in UCD and the Mater Hospital, also found that under the Mental Health Act psychiatrists have less time to deal with patients who seek voluntary admission for treatment.