Denis Naughten
Question:69. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the plans for the provision of acute mental health facilities nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6700/14]
View answerThursday, 13 February 2014
Questions (69)
Written answers
In the context of a developing community mental health services, “A Vision for Change” recommends a ratio of 17 acute in-patient beds per 100,000 population, and also that these beds include acute in-patient provision for General Adult, Psychiatry of Old Age, Mental Health and Intellectual Disability (MHID), and Eating Disorders, for that population.
Community mental health team capacity for General Adult, Psychiatry of Old Age, and MHID, is therefore being enhanced, arising from investment in mental health services over 2012 -13 and continuing this year. The objective of the HSE, having regard to the stage of development of community mental health team provision, is to reduce adult acute in-patient capacity to 20:100,000.
By the end of 2014, the HSE expects to be close to completion of the planned reduction in adult acute in-patient beds to circa. 20 beds per 100,000 people. As such, I have no plans at present to review the provision of acute mental health facilities nationally.
I am satisfied that the approach now being adopted best reflects implementation at local level of the widely agreed policy "A Vision for Change", and reflects also what is practicable in line with service and resource priorities recently agreed under the HSE Service Plan 2014 for continued improvements overall to our mental health services.