Pádraic McCormack
Question:31 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the level of care being afforded to patients in mental hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Mental Hospitals' Service.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:55 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health whether he has satisfied himself as to the adequacy of the special hospital services with particular reference to an improved standard of accommodation in existing institutions, or replacement of these and with the provision of the adequate staffing ratios to meet modern requirements in respect of mental handicaps, psychiatric and psycho-geriatric; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 55 together.
I would like to point out to the Deputies that the level of care and standard of accommodation in special hospitals, in the first instance, are the responsibility of the relevant health board. I am satisfied that the special hospital service is adequately funded and staffed and that the accommodation provided is in good repair.
In his report for 1988 and 1989 which was published last year, the Inspector of Mental Hospitals praised the standards of care in some psychiatric hospitals but was critical of the standards in others. The inspector's report for 1990, which will soon be ready for publication, shows that substantial improvements took place in many hospitals in that year, progress which has been maintained to date.
In the light of the inspector's comments on his most recent visits made to psychiatric hospitals, I am reasonably satisfied with the quality of care given to patients in psychiatric hospitals while recognising that there is still scope for improvement.
The health boards are developing a comprehensive community psychiatric service in line with Planning for the Future, published in 1984 and some older psychiatric hospitals are being replaced by acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals. Other community services being put in place include day hospitals, day centres and hostel accommodation. Specialist psycho-geriatric services are also being developed by health boards for the elderly with dementia.
Significant progress has been made in recent years in the services available to people with a mental handicap resident in psychiatric hospitals. There were 942 people with mental handicap accommodated in public psychiatric hospitals on 31 December 1991. A further 447 people were accommodated in designated units associated with these hospitals but which are now part of the mental handicap service. These figures compare with 1,495 and 310 repectively in 1990. Additional funding of £200,000 has been made available this year to the Eastern Health Board to improve staffing levels for the care of clients with mental handicap in St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane.