Olivia Mitchell
Question:138 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he has taken to deal with the concerns set out by the inspector of mental hospitals in his most recent report. [24492/00]
Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.
The report of the inspector of mental hospitals for the year ending 31 December 1999 acknowledged the progress that has been made in the provision of acute units in general hospitals, community mental health centres, day hospitals and community residential facilities. However, there was also a reference to the need for progress to accelerate. In this connection, I assure the Deputy that I intend to facilitate further significant development of the services under the national development plan.
A sum of £150 million capital is being made available under the NDP for the development of mental health services. A significant part of this funding will go towards general hospitals as a replacement of services previously provided in psychiatric hospitals. At the end of the period of the national development plan, it is the intention to have the programme of acute psychiatric units completed, which will mean an end to acute admissions to the old psychiatric hospitals. The plan will also provide for more community facilities such as mental health centres and community residences which will further accelerate the phasing out of the old institutions.
Concern was expressed in the inspector's report at difficulties recruiting qualified psychiatric nursing personnel, which were particularly acute in the eastern region. Increasing the annual intake of psychiatric nurses is a key element in the Government's strategy for addressing the current shortage of nurses. In excess of £1 million has been provided for local and national marketing campaigns undertaken by the nursing careers centre and the schools of nursing around the country. The schools of nursing have since succeeded in filling a record 254 training places in psychiatric nursing in 1999 and this record figure was exceeded this year, rising to 300.
In his report the inspector also expressed concern at the lack of multidisciplinary teams in many mental health services, particularly in the area of psychology and social work services. Additional resources of £1.4 million were provided to health boards in 2000 for improvements in these services. The inspector also highlighted a number of other service and quality of care issues which were raised with individual service providers. These issues will continue to be pursued with a view to bringing about the improvements required.
It is my intention to facilitate the health boards in so far as possible in bringing about the improvements and developments identified by the inspector.