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10/09/2012
Suicide Watch Family Accuse Mater Hospital Of 'Not Listening'
The family of a suicidal man have hit out at Belfast's Mater Hospital for releasing him on the grounds that he was of no danger to himself.
They said staff are "not listening" to suicide concerns.
The news emerged today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, as Stormont politicians debated suicide and Health Minister Edwin Poots said people in deprived parts of Northern Ireland were three times more likely than others to take their own lives.
The North Belfast News reported that the 22-year-old in question was taken to hospital at 9am last Monday (September 3) after his family talked him out of a threat to kill himself.
Four hours later, at 1pm, Mater Hospital doctors released the man and he is now under the round-the-clock care of his family.
Close relative Kate Ferrin said the events paralleled the run-up to her own son's death.
Christopher 'Chricky' Scott-Ferrin, 19, died by suicide in August 2010, five days after spending eight hours in the hospital and being seen only by a triage nurse and an A&E doctor.
Ms Ferrin said: "They are just not listening, the lessons should have been learnt by now. Somebody has attempted to take their own life but is then told he is not a danger to himself, what does he have to do? The Mater are failing people with serious mental health problems."
A spokesman for the Belfast Trust said treatment plans for people with suicidal thoughts differ from person to person. He said assessments "can be" carried out within four hours for urgent cases.
(NE)
They said staff are "not listening" to suicide concerns.
The news emerged today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, as Stormont politicians debated suicide and Health Minister Edwin Poots said people in deprived parts of Northern Ireland were three times more likely than others to take their own lives.
The North Belfast News reported that the 22-year-old in question was taken to hospital at 9am last Monday (September 3) after his family talked him out of a threat to kill himself.
Four hours later, at 1pm, Mater Hospital doctors released the man and he is now under the round-the-clock care of his family.
Close relative Kate Ferrin said the events paralleled the run-up to her own son's death.
Christopher 'Chricky' Scott-Ferrin, 19, died by suicide in August 2010, five days after spending eight hours in the hospital and being seen only by a triage nurse and an A&E doctor.
Ms Ferrin said: "They are just not listening, the lessons should have been learnt by now. Somebody has attempted to take their own life but is then told he is not a danger to himself, what does he have to do? The Mater are failing people with serious mental health problems."
A spokesman for the Belfast Trust said treatment plans for people with suicidal thoughts differ from person to person. He said assessments "can be" carried out within four hours for urgent cases.
(NE)
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