asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients in mental hospital institutions in the 26 Counties at 31st December, 1969; what percentage of the Irish population this represents; how this percentage compares with the British figures; and what plans he has to tackle this problem at a national level.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Patients.
7.
The number of patients on the registers of our psychiatric hospitals on 31st December, 1969, was 16,802. This represents 0.57 per cent of the estimated population. In England and Wales the estimated percentage of the population in mental illness beds was 0.23 and in Scotland it was 0.36 for the year 1969. Figures between different countries may not be directly comparable, but I am still satisfied that the number of patients in our psychiatric hospitals is unduly high. I have already drawn attention to this matter in my statement to the House when introducing the Estimate for my Department on 8th April this year and I gave on that occasion an indication of the principal developments which are taking place in our endeavours to cope with this and other problems in relation to the mental health services.
In addition, last month a conference of managers and resident medical superintendents of mental hospital authorities was organised by my Department at which the question of reducing the number of patients in our psychiatric hospitals was among the matters discussed.
In view of the Minister's statement a few days ago at the conference on mental illness, would he not agree that the figure he has given is artificially low due to the fact that so many of the severely- and moderately-mentally handicapped are not in institutions, as stated by the Minister at this conference?
I am referring to mentally ill persons, not mentally handicapped persons. There is a distinction between the two of which the Deputy should be aware.