Ciarán Cuffe
Question:198 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she is taking on foot of the recommendations in the most recent report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals. [30204/04]
View answerTuesday, 23 November 2004
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The report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals for the year ending 31 December 2003 was published on 8 September 2004. I welcome the publication of this report and acknowledge the important role the inspector has played for several years in providing an accurate and detailed account of services in the mental health sector throughout the country. In his 2003 report, the Inspector of Mental Hospitals notes the continuing decline in the number of patients in psychiatric inpatient facilities, from 3,966 at the end of 2002 to 3,701 at the end of 2003. Approximately 10%, or 2,349, of all admissions to psychiatric hospitals and units in 2003 were involuntary admissions. Ireland has a significantly higher rate of involuntary admission than other European countries. However, it is anticipated that the full implementation of the Mental Health Act 2001, with its more stringent procedures for involuntary detention, will significantly reduce the number of involuntary admissions, bringing practice in this country more into line with the rest of Europe.
In his report, the inspector refers to and welcomes the ongoing replacement of old institutional mental hospitals with acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals. During 2003, two new acute psychiatric units opened at St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny and at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar. This year a new 50-bed acute psychiatric unit opened at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. The inspector also noted some other developments which had taken place during 2003, especially the establishment of the expert group on mental health policy in August 2003. The expert group is preparing a new national policy framework for the mental health services. The group has undertaken an extensive consultation process with interested parties and is expected to report in 2005.
I assure the Deputy that, while I am pleased with the scale of the progress being made in many of the services, I accept that much remains to be done in providing a service which will enhance the quality of care for those suffering from mental illness. It is my intention to facilitate the service providers in bringing about the improvements and developments identified by the inspector as quickly as possible. I am fully committed to endeavouring to ensure that the recommendations made in the inspector's report for 2003 are implemented as soon as possible. An additional €15 million is being made available for the further development of our mental health services in 2005.