Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2013
218. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the number of patients residing in psychiatric hospitals and units during the period 2006 to 2011; the number discharged; the number who went into community mental health care services and the number who went home; the number of patients still residing in psychiatric hospitals and units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32388/13]
View answerInformation on the number of patients resident in Irish psychiatric units and hospitals is collected by the Health Research Board under the National Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS). The number of patients resident in such hospitals and units on Census nights - 31st March 2006 and 31st March 2010 is set out below. Data on the intervening years is not available.
|
Year |
Number of Patients Resident in Psychiatric Hospitals and Units |
|
2006 |
3,389 |
|
2010 |
2,812 |
Source: NPIRS, Health Research Board
In terms of the number of patients still residing in hospitals and units, the Health Research Board conducted a Census of Psychiatric hospitals and units on 31st March 2013 and this data is currently being processed. It is expected that preliminary data will be available before the end of the year.
The number of psychiatric patients discharged from Irish psychiatric hospitals between the years 2006 and 2012 is set out below. Data on the numbers who have been discharged into community mental healthcare services and the numbers discharged home is not collected.
|
Year |
Number of Discharges |
|
2006 |
20,098 |
|
2007 |
20,498 |
|
2008 |
20,603 |
|
2009 |
20,213 |
|
2010 |
19,614 |
|
2011 |
18,968 |
|
2012* |
17,986 |
*Data for 2012 are provisional and subject to change
Source: NPIRS, Health Research Board
