Vol. 377 No. 6
asked the Minister for Health in view of the designation by his Department of personnel to investigate the apparent discharge of a number of patients from St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon in recent months, the number of investigations ongoing at present; if any of them have been completed; and the outcome of these investigations.
207.
asked the Minister for Health if any inquiries are currently being carried out by his Department on deaths arising out of discharges or refusal of admission to Roscommon County Hospital or St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon.
208.
asked the Minister for Health whether or not he has satisfied himself with the discharge policy being implemented in St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon in view of recent allegations; and if he in turn has satisfied himself that the accommodation being provided for the discharged patients is up to the specified standards.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 206, 207 and 208 together.
The reorganisation of psychiatric services in County Roscommon is being undertaken in accordance with plans drawn up by the Western Health Board. These plans conform with the recommendations of the report — Planning for the Future — which provided guidelines for the development of psychiatric services. The discharge policy in St. Patrick's is similar to that prevailing in several other hospitals throughout the country and is in accord with national policy.
I have seen press reports of allegations regarding shortcomings in several aspects of the psychiatric service in County Roscommon. In so far as individual events can be identified the comments are at best unhelpful and at times untrue. They can do little except cause worry to patients, ex-patients and their families.
Housing which is provided for former long-stay patients from St. Patrick's are of good standard with the general range of modern conveniences including central heating. No investigation is taking place or proposed into the discharge policy in relation to St. Patrick's Hospital.
Psychiatric facilities have not yet been provided at the County Hospital, Roscommon. The question of admitting psychiatric patients there does not therefore arise.
No patient has died as a result of discharge from St. Patrick's. No patient has been refused admission. In recent months one patient died in the hospital and one former patient died at home in circumstances which justified referring the cases to the coroner. Inquests are expected to be held in both cases. They are also being investigated separately by the inspector of mental hospitals.
