Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 1997

Vol. 477 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.

Tony Killeen

Question:

113 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health his views on the operation of services for patients with mental illness or mental handicap in alternative dedicated community residential or other accommodation; if he has satisfied himself that adequate resources have been made available for the operation of these services; the level of assessment of the services which has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8579/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

Limerick East): Health boards are responsible for the delivery of health services, including mental health services and services to persons with a mental handicap in their functional areas.

It is the policy of my Departmental to provide, where appropriate, residential services for persons with mental illness and those with a mental handicap in community based facilities. Health boards are developing comprehensive community based services for these two groups in line with the recommendations of the report on the development of the psychiatric services, Planning for the Future, and the report of the Review Group on Mental Handicap Services, Needs and Abilities.

A key objective of psychiatric service development policy modelled on the recommendations of Planning for the Future is the provision of appropriate psychiatric service facilities to persons with a mental illness who require varying degrees of support, care and treatment. These varying needs can be met in many instances through the provision of care to patients in community residential facilities in place of in-patient care in psychiatric hospitals. Progress towards more appropriate provision of services from in-patient to community based care is reflected in the accelerated development of community residences since 1984 when Planning for the Future was published. In 1994 there were 121 community residences providing a total of just over 900 places compared to 377 community residences providing a total of 2,666 places in 1995.

In the period 1990 to 1996 over 1,000 new residential/respite places for persons with a mental handicap have been in place, most of which are in the community. Placements in the services are made following an assessment of each individual's needs and the level of support required to maintain them in a residential setting. Programmes are put in place for each individual which are reviewed on an ongoing basis and the persons concerned also receive support, as required, from various health care professionals. The role of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals in relation to standards of care in mental health services is of great importance. The inspector is required under the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, to visit public psychiatric hospitals and services once a year and private psychiatric hospitals biannually. The inspector's most recent report for 1995 refers to a continuing improvement in the quality of care provided to patients while recognising that there is still scope for improvement.

In the case of persons with a mental handicap, both the progress of individuals and the overall operation of the residential services are subject to ongoing review by the agencies concerned and in the broader context by the health boards.