Current policy in relation to the provision of psychiatric services is based on the recommendations of the report on the development of mental health services, Planning for the Future, published in 1984. As regards the care of elderly persons in psychiatric hospitals the report recommended that patients whose needs are primarily geriatric should be accommodated separately from mentally ill patients.
Demographic projections in relation to older people clearly indicates that the number of persons in this category will increase significantly over the next 20 years. This increase will require the development of specialist mental health services which will meet the specific needs of older people. Psychiatry of old age is a key area for development in line with the recommendations of the report, The Years Ahead – Policy for the Elderly, which recommended the establishment of specialised services for the elderly mentally infirm. Pending the provision of such services, health boards have been, where possible, endeavouring to provide more suitable accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients.
The patients referred to by the Deputy were recently under the care of the mental health services at St. Conal's Hospital, Letterkenny which is the responsibility of the North-Western Health Board. I understand that the patients were transferred to the nursing home as it was considered to be a more suitable care environment for the patients. Prior to the patients transfer to nursing home care, each patient was medically assessed and deemed suitable for transfer. The relatives of the patients were also consulted and offered no objections or complaints prior to the transfers taking place. I believe the patients, aged 84, 75 and 74 years of age, have since sadly died but I can assure the Deputy that the deaths were not related to the patient transfers to nursing home care.
