{
  "abstract": "Introduction The risk of death by suicide is increased in patients with self-harming or suicidal behaviours (SH/SB). In 2023, 53% of the 12,792 presentations to an Irish Emergency Department (ED) for SH/SB were brought in by pre-hospital services. The quality of these early healthcare interactions can affect a patient’s willingness to seek or engage in further help. This research describes the pre-hospital practitioners (EMT, Paramedics and Advanced Paramedics) experiences and perceptions of care provided in the ED setting, to patients with SH/SB and is part of a wider mixed method study on practitioners’ experiences.Methods An email circulated through the pre-hospital statutory regulatory body PHECC (Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council), facilitated the purposeful national recruitment of 11 experienced pre-hospital practitioners to this descriptive qualitative study. They were consented and their semi-structured online interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed using a recognised framework.Results Despite some positive anecdotes, participants associated the ED with long delays, privacy issues and a perceived shortfall in emotional and psychological assistance, especially for those sent to the waiting room. Participants spoke of leveraging their professional and personal credibility with ED staff to advocate for patients they believed to be at a higher risk of suicide. Participants reported stepping outside of their organisational protocols to avoid bringing patients into ED. While concomitant substance abuse and psychological issues were recognised as complicating factors, encounters with patients leaving the ED early and repeat patient presentations reinforced negative participant perceptions of ED care. Participants indicated that due to their experiences they would be reluctant to attend an ED for a personal mental health crisis.Conclusion The development of a national practitioner survey has been informed by these findings. The care provided in an ED not only affects the patient but can affect those who witness the delivery of that care. *presenting author",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Trinity College Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Eamonn Byrne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Limerick, Ireland",
        "Monash University, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Niamh Cummins"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Trinity College Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Brian Keogh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Trinity College Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Louise Doyle"
    }
  ],
  "title": "#321 ‘There’s no one there to continue that support, that care!’ Pre-hospital experiences and perceptions of care provided to self-harming or suicidal patients in an emergency department",
  "uid": "8f9ba484-a630-5c72-9f7d-07e55329c75f"
}