Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004
74 Ms Enright asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of acute psychiatric units which are attached to psychiatric hospitals that have stand-alone facilities; the number of units which have been recommended to be transferred to an acute hospital; if she will provide a list of these hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31756/04]
View answer113 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the care of acute psychiatric patients who are treated in acute units not attached to general hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31757/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 113 together.
Since the publication of Planning for the Future in 1984, it has been the policy of successive Governments to replace 19th century mental hospital accommodation with acute assessment and treatment units in general hospitals and, for less acute illness, appropriate community residential premises. The shift in the delivery of psychiatric services from isolated psychiatric hospitals to acute psychiatric units on the site of general hospitals has been extremely successful and undoubtedly the quality of care for persons with a mental illness has been enhanced by these developments.
There are now 22 operational general hospital psychiatric units. A further two such units are expected to open in 2005 and several other units are at various stages of planning. An expert group on mental health policy was established in August 2003 to prepare a national policy framework for the further modernisation of the mental health services, updating the 1984 policy document, Planning for the Future. In addition, the Deputies may note that provision has been made in the budget for funding on a multi-annual basis for the years 2006 to 2009 to further help move over 600 persons with intellectual disability or autism out of psychiatric hospitals or other inappropriate settings. The future direction and delivery of all aspects of our mental health services including the further development of community-based services will be considered in the context of the work of the group. It is expected that the expert group will report in 2005.
