Enda Kenny
Question:249 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the number of forced admissions to psychiatric hospitals being up-dated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Hospital Admissions.
Information in relation to admissions, both voluntary and involuntary, to psychiatric hospitals is collated on behalf of my Department on an annual basis by the Health Research Board. The latest published information from the Health Research Board is in respect of the year 1989. The report showed that of a total of 27,250 admissions to psychiatric hospitals and units 3,555 were non-voluntary.
I am concerned at the delay at the compilation of these statistics. My Department has just completed discussions with the health boards, and the Health Research Board about improving the timeliness of the data on psychiatric admissions. I am confident that there will be significant improvements in the timeliness of data before the end of this year.