Ivor Callely
Question:170 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will give a breakdown of the number of long stay psychiatric hospital beds in each health board area in 1993; and a comparison figure for each of the years 1973 and 1983.
Vol. 437 No. 2
170 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will give a breakdown of the number of long stay psychiatric hospital beds in each health board area in 1993; and a comparison figure for each of the years 1973 and 1983.
The number of long-stay psychiatric hospital beds in each health board area in 1973, 1983 and in 1993 is given in tabular form.
As the figures indicate, the years 1973 to 1993 represent a period of significant change in the delivery of psychiatric services in Ireland. The report of the study group on the development of the psychiatric services Planning for the Future which was published in 1984 noted that the psychiatric hospital had been the focal point of the psychiatric services in most parts of the country and that large numbers of patients resided permanently in these hospitals. It recommended a shift in the delivery of services for the mentally ill from an institutional to a community-based service.
Health Board |
1973 |
1983 |
1993 |
Eastern Health Board |
N/A |
2,439 |
1,242 |
Midland Health Board |
1,380 |
957 |
349 |
Mid-Western Health Board |
1,500 |
1,300 |
552 |
North-Eastern Health Board |
862 |
510 |
280 |
North-Western Health Board |
1,180 |
1,180 |
198 |
South-Eastern Health Board |
1,940 |
1,559 |
777 |
Southern Health Board |
2,327 |
1,887 |
1,154 |
Western Health Board |
2,206 |
1,523 |
816 |