asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report of a recent statement by the medical superintendent of Our Lady's Hospital, Cork, that there are 400 discharged patients resident in the hospital; and if he will make arrangements to have them transferred to another institution so that the staff at Our Lady's Hospital can give their full attention to the care of the mentally ill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Our Lady's Hospital, Cork.
2.
I have seen a report of the statement referred to.
The problem of old people in mental hospitals who do not require full hospital facilities was discussed with managers and resident medical superintendents in April last year. It was suggested by my Department that mental health authorities should consider ways and means of segregating such patients within the existing mental hospital complex and of having their care assigned to non-psychiatric medical and nursing staff.
One 100-bed unit at Our Lady's Hospital, Cork, has been withdrawn in this way for geriatric patients and is now being staffed by non-psychiatric personnel. I am anxious that the authority should proceed with further developments of this kind, so as to bring about the segregation of patients suggested last April by my Department. I am also anxious that the authority should develop its active treatment facilities at Our Lady's Hospital and St. Stephen's Hospital as an important step in reducing in-patient numbers, relieving overcrowding and helping in the segregation of geriatric patients.