Vol. 549 No. 3
202 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures being taken to upgrade mental hospitals; the measures being taken to improve the standard of accommodation for patients with a mental illness; the action being taken to develop the community services in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6317/02]
Approximately €190 million capital will be provided over the lifetime of the national development plan for mental health services. A significant part of this funding will go towards the development of acute psychiatric units linked to general hospitals as a replacement of services previously provided in psychiatric hospitals. The plan will also provide for more community facilities such as mental health centres, day hospitals and community residences which will accelerate the phasing out of the old institutions.
Considerable progress has been made in the past number of years. However, it is acknowledged that further progress is required in the years ahead.
203 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if data from persons using the mental health service completing a questionnaire is compiled in public; the plans to have an independent assessment of this data; the action he intends to take following the compilation of this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6318/02]
I am not aware of a mental health questionnaire being compiled at this time at national level. The mental health services of the health boards may devise their own questionnaires for surveying patient satisfaction within their own services. In the normal course, information which would identify individual patients would not be published.
Question No. 204 answered with Question No. 201.
