Substantial progress has been made in recent years in ensuring that those in need of mental health services receive care and treatment in the most appropriate setting. In this regard health boards have developed, and are continuing to develop, a modern comprehensive community-based mental health service. This has resulted in a continuing decline in the number of in-patients with a corresponding increase in the provision of a range of care facilities based in the community to complement in-patient services.
It is my intention to continue to accelerate the growth in alternatives to hospitalisation with the further development of community-based services throughout the country. Significant additional funding both capital and revenue has been provided by my Department in recent years for this purpose. It is the responsibility of each health board to identify the needs in its area and to address those needs as far as possible from within the resources available.