South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

REPORT ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN NURSING HOMES WORRYING: SINN FÉIN

Published: 9 September, 2008

REPORT ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN NURSING HOMES WORRYING: SINN FÉIN

Sinn Féin Balmoral Representative and head of the party's Equality and Human Rights department Vincent Parker, has stated that today's Queens University report highlighting that there may be an over subscription of calming drugs such as tranquilisers within local nursing homes raises serious concerns.

Speaking today Mr Parker stated:

'The report from Queens University Belfast highlights worrying concerns with regards the use of prescription drugs such as tranquilisers within our nursing homes.

'Many of those who are prescribed these drugs are given inappropriate doses and some may not even need to be prescribed the drugs at all. What is also of concern is that these levels are prescriptions are only re-assessed on a yearly basis.

'In everyday life we do not see many cases where calming drugs are prescribed for over a year, and after a year has passed the prescription is re-assessed, so why is it happening within our nursing homes?

'The entire scheme raises serious concerns including enforced dependency, the high cost of prescription drugs and the establishment of a culture where the taking of tranquilisers and calming drugs seems to be wholly acceptable and the easy way to deal with problems.' CRÍOCH