FG demands new procedures for self-harm injuries

Fine Gael is calling for standard assessment procedures to be put in place for those presenting themselves at hospitals with self-inflicted injuries.

Recent figures estimate that more than 60,000 people are deliberately harming themselves in Ireland each year.

Just over 11,000 people went to A&E with self-harm injuries in 2004.

Fine Gael's Deputy Health Spokesman Dan Neville said today that new procedures could reduce the risk of suicide: “These people are in deep crisis. They need psychiatric assessment and intervention immediately. They are a danger to themselves and they are in danger of repeating.

“It is accepted that somebody who has self-harmed is at high risk of suicide – we believe that there should be a crisis nurse on-call at all times to deal with people presenting who have self-harmed,” he said.