Dan Boyle
Question:111 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the policy his Department has to reduce the number of psychiatric hospitals operating here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5093/03]
Written Answers - Hospital Closures.
In 1984 the policy document Planning for the Future recommended the establishment of a comprehensive, community oriented mental health service as an alternative to institutional care for persons with mental illness. The shift from a predominantly hospital based service to a service delivered to patients with the least disruption to their daily lives in the community has taken place with significant improvements in standards of patient care. A major criticism of current mental health services relates to the standard of accommodation provided for users in the old style mental hospitals, some of which are unsuitable for the delivery of a modern mental health service.
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. There are now 18 general hospital psychiatric units operational. Three more units will become available to their mental health services in the near future, two units are under construction and several others are at various stages of planning.
In relation to community residences, there are approximately 400 community psychiatric residences here providing over 3,000 places. This compares to 111 residences providing less than 1,000 places in 1984. In relation to day hospitals and centres, there are approximately 200 providing over 3,500 places. This compares with 39 such centres providing approximately 1,200 places in 1984. This shift to a community based service has facilitated the closure of a number of old style psychiatric hospitals.