asked the Minister for Health the number of patients at present in psychiatric hospitals in the country; the proportion of these who are geriatric patients; and if his Department have any plans for the future of these hospitals.
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Hospital Patients.
486.
The number of patients in psychiatric hospitals in the country on 31st December, 1976, was 14,473. Approximately one third of these patients were aged 65 years and over. The future plans for these hospitals involve the upgrading of suitable sections of the hospitals for the continuing care of long-stay patients and the discarding as soon as the fall in patient numbers permits, of those sections which are considered unsuitable. A continuing decline in the number of patients in these hospitals is being achieved through the further development of rehabilitation and out-patient services and the transfer to general hospitals of acute treatment facilities.