Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 3

Written Answers. - Psychiatric Services.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

109 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has for the long term future of St. Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital, Dublin 7; and if it is possible to provide for all patients there through properly funded community care.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The report of the study group on the development of psychiatric services Planning for the Future published in 1984, recommended a shift in the delivery of services for the mentally ill from an institutional to a community-based service. This report has been adopted by successive Governments and forms a blueprint for the development of psychiatric services into the 21st century.

In pursuit of this policy, the Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for St. Brendan's Hospital, has developed a comprehensive range of community-based psychiatric services which complement in-patient facilities for acute psychiatric care in St. Brendan's Hospital. The community based residential, rehabiliation and activity facilities are designed to meet the needs of former long-stay patients of psychiatric hospitals, including St. Brendan's Hospital.

As a result of the implementation of this policy, the number of in-patients in St. Brendan's Hospital has fallen from 987 in 1986 to 287 in 1993 and units unsuitable for a modern psychiatric service have been phased out. The health board proposes to phase out one further unit over the next year or two.

St. Brendan's Hospital now provides three separate services — an acute psychiatric service, a rehabilitation service and a regional secure facility. The Eastern Health Board considers that these components of a comprehensive psychiatric service should continue to be based in St. Brendan's Hospital for the foreseeable future.