Sir, - A White Paper on a new Mental Health Act was published in 1995, with a promise of early legislation. Schizophrenia Ireland has had a series of promised publication dates given to it since that time, and the latest news is that it will not now be coming before the Dail before Easter.
Why is it that some of the most seriously ill people in our society are given the least priority? With medical personnel and gardai working with 50-year old legislation, many potentially tragic situations are arising where patients are not given their right to treatment because of difficulties in escorting them to hospital.
Who are the losers? Patients who are not being treated for their illness, and families, the primary carers, who have to bear the burden of care because they cannot get their relative to hospital.
We urge the Government to bring forward this legislation immediately, and give people with mental illness their right as equal members in this society. Further delay is unacceptable. - Yours, etc., Orla O'Neill,
Director, Schizophrenia Ireland, Blessington Street, Dublin 7.