Vol. 476 No. 7
31 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in publishing the report by the inspector of mental hospitals in view of the fact that contents are often out of date by the time they are debated. [6797/97]
Limerick East): I assure the Deputy that I am committed to the publication of the annual report of the inspector of mental hospitals as soon as possible after the inspections of individual facilities are completed and reports are compiled. The most recent published report, that for the year ending 31 December 1995, was the eighth report of the inspector to be published since his appointment in 1987 and the fourth such report which I have published since taking office. The inspector's report for 1996 will be published later this year.
The inspector carries out in-depth inspections of all public and private hospitals and units in the country, including the Central Mental Hospital. Public psychiatric hospitals and units are inspected annually while private hospitals and the Central Mental Hospital are inspected twice yearly.
Detailed reports on each inspection, with general comments and recommendations for improvements in services, are prepared by the inspector. These reports are forwarded to the chief executive officer of the responsible health board or voluntary hospital, in respect of public psychiatric facilities and to the person in charge of each private facility. In each case a response to the comments made by the inspector and on his recommendations for improvements in services is requested. The reports of individual inspections are then summarised to form the inspector's annual report. It will be clear, therefore, that the relevant service providers are made aware of the inspector's findings before the annual report is published.
I am aware that there has been in the past a time lapse between the time of the inspector's reports of individual inspections and the publication of his annual report. I am satisfied however, that this area has been significantly improved in recent years.
