Bernard J. Durkan
Question:185 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to extend community based mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15957/04]
View answerWednesday, 26 May 2004
Questions (168, 169)
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:186 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the serious resource and personnel shortages in the area of psychiatric and mental health services; if he has plans to address this serious issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15958/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.
A major criticism of current mental health services relates to the standard of accommodation provided for users in the old style mental hospitals, many of which are unsuitable for the delivery of a modern mental health service. Substantial capital funding is being provided over the lifetime of the national development plan to fund the development of acute psychiatric units linked to general hospitals, as a replacement of services previously provided in old-style psychiatric hospitals. Significant progress has been made. There are now 21 general hospital psychiatric units operational and several others at various stages of development. There has been a continuing decline in the number of in-patients from 5,192 in 1997 to 3,966 in 2002 with a corresponding increase in the provision of a range of care facilities based in the community to complement in-patient services. There are now 411 community psychiatric residences in the country providing 3,146 places compared to 391 residences providing 2,878 places in 1997.
Since 1997, approximately €90 million additional revenue funding has been invested in the mental health services. In the main, this funding is being used to provide additional medical and health professional staff for expanding community mental health services, to increase child and adolescent services, to expand the old age psychiatric services and to provide liaison psychiatry services in general hospitals. Significant funding has also been made available by Government to support groups and organisations such has Schizophrenia Ireland, Mental Health Ireland, GROW and Aware to heighten awareness and develop support services for service users and carers.
The expert group on mental health policy was established in 2003 to prepare a new national policy framework for the mental health services updating the 1984 policy document, Planning for the Future. The group consists of 18 widely experienced people who are serving in their personal capacities. The membership encompasses a wide range of knowledge and a balance of views on many issues affecting the performance and delivery of care in our mental health services. The group is expected to complete its work in 2005. I am committed to the provision of quality care in the area of mental health and I will be endeavouring to secure additional funding for this sector in the coming years.
Question No. 187 answered with Question No. 105.
Question No. 188 answered with Question No. 39.