Vol. 572 No. 2
21 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps it is intended to take to address the seriously inadequate conditions in mental hospitals highlighted in the recent report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22534/03]
I welcome the publication of the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals for 2002 and acknowledge the important role that the inspector plays in providing an accurate and detailed account of services in the mental health sector throughout the country.
In his report for 2002, the inspector notes the continuing decline in the number of patients in psychiatric in-patient facilities, from 4,256 at the end of 2001 to 3,966 at the end of 2002. He also highlighted the further increases in the provision of community facilities, such as day services and community residences. The inspectorate would like to see the programme of community residence provision accelerated and extended to eliminate the occupation of acute beds by patients whose illness and needs are no longer acute. I fully support that objective.
Significant advances have been made in recent years in the provision of community psychiatry, nursing services, community residences, day hospitals and day centres. In the period 1999-2002, an additional €70.7 million was invested in the mental health services. In the current year, additional revenue funding of €7.6 million will be provided for on-going improvements in mental health services, to develop and expand community mental health services, to increase child and adolescent services, to expand the later-life psychiatry services, to provide liaison psychiatry services in general hospitals and to enhance the support provided to voluntary agencies.
In his report, the inspector outlined some significant developments during 2002, including the setting up of the Mental Health Commission with the appointment of a chairperson and members. Functions of the commission include an independent review of patients detained involuntarily, the establishment of an Inspector of Mental Health Services and responsibility for establishing and maintaining a register of centres approved by it for the detention of patients suffering from mental disorder.
The inspector welcomed the considerable reinforcement of various sub-specialties in recent years, with the appointment of additional consultant psychiatrists in later-life psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, rehabilitation psychiatry and liaison psychiatry in general hospitals. The inspector felt these posts demonstrate recognition at official level of the increasing complexity of psychiatric disorder and the growth of understanding of some of the circumstances and consequences of major mental disorder.
However, the inspector did acknowledge shortcomings in the services also. In particular, the failure of psychiatric general hospital units at Portlaoise General Hospital and Castlebar Regional Hospital to open as planned was a source of disappointment to the inspector. He noted that the slow rate of progress in this area contributed to patient disadvantage. However, I am pleased to inform the House that both units are expected to open shortly.
