Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
63 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the gross under provision of psychiatric services and the consequences for individuals and their families of the absence of any coherent strategy for the psychiatric services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15459/04]
View answerAdvancement in the standards of care for psychiatric patients remains at the heart of developing and improving psychiatric services as set out in the policy document, Planning for the Future. The thrust of this report recommended the establishment of a comprehensive community based 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 lives in the community has taken place, with significant improvements in standards of patient care.
In recent years, significant additional resources have been committed to the further development of community based mental health services. This has resulted in 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 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, to provide liaison psychiatry services in general hospitals and to enhance the support provided to voluntary agencies. The total mental health budget for 2004 is €661.35 million.
The expert group on mental health policy was established in 2003 to prepare a new national policy framework for the mental health services, updating 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.
