Bernard Allen
Question:206 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of acute psychiatric beds per 100,000 of population; and his views on whether the number of beds are sufficient. [13581/00]
Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.
According to information supplied by the psychiatric hospitals, there are 1,413 acute psychiatric beds available throughout the country. This represents 39 beds per 100,000 of the population.
There does not appear to be any international bed norms in this area but I am advised by the inspector of mental hospitals that this ratio is sufficient for our population. However, many acute beds are being inappropriately occupied at present by longer-stay patients. This problem was highlighted in the report by the inspector of mental hospitals entitled, We Have No Beds: An inquiry into the availability and use of acute psychiatric beds in the Eastern Health Board region, published in 1999.
Additional community-based facilities are required to address this problem. Some progress has been made in recent years in setting up new mental health centres, day hospitals and other day facilities. Additional community-based residential accommodation has also been made avail able. It is intended to accelerate the growth in alternatives to hospitalisation over the coming years with the further development of community-based services throughout the country. Funding has been provided to health boards this year for additional medical, paramedical and nursing support staff, for improvements in psychology and social work services and for the continued development of multi-disciplinary teams.