Vol. 542 No. 6
220 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of long stay psychiatric patients in each of the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001; the number discharged in each year; the number re-admitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25544/01]
An annual "Activities Report on the Irish Psychiatric Services" is produced by the Health Research Board. The latest published report is for 1999. This report states that the number of long stay psychiatric patients – defined as in excess of five years – in 1999 was 1,842. The number of long stay patients who were discharged from psychiatric hospitals in 1999 was 286. This figure also includes some long stay patients who may have died in this period. The number of long stay patients who were readmitted to hospital is not available. In 1998 the number of long stay patients was 2,054 and the number of long stay patients discharged, including deaths, was 255.
More than half the patients who are in psychiatric hospitals longer than five years are over 65. As part of the Government's commitment to improving health services for older persons, the number of psychiatric teams specifically concerned with later life psychiatry has been increased in recent years. In 2001, £1.87 million is being provided towards the provision of additional consultants in old age psychiatry. Integration of community and hospital-based psychiatric services with geriatric medicine to provide comprehensive and appropriate packages for older people is progressing. Other steps being taken to improve services for this group of patients include rehabilitation, retraining and the reinstatement of life skills, de-designation of wards and transfer to more appropriate care settings.
With regard to the remaining group of long-stay patients, those under 65, each health board plans to transfer such patients to community-based or other alternative facilities appropriate to their needs as part of the modernisation of the mental health services.
