andDr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Health (a) the highest and (b) the lowest figure for the number of patients in a district mental hospital expressed as a percentage of the population of the respective catchment areas; and the names of the two hospitals or health authorities concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - District Mental Hospital Patients.
10.
Dr. Browne
Based on patient populations as on 31st December, 1970, the highest percentage is .95 and is in respect of the counties Galway and Roscommon, served by Ballinasloe and Castlerea Mental Hospitals.
The lowest percentage of .32 was recorded in respect of two areas— Carlow and Kildare—served by Carlow Mental Hospital and the area comprising Dublin City and County and County Wicklow, served by St. Brendan's, St. Ita's, St. Loman's, and Newcastle Hospitals.
The Tánaiste will agree that there is a wide discrepancy between the two areas. Does he propose to have any kind of inquiry as to why it is so?
Discussions are held in my Department every year with the chief psychiatrists on this question and on the desirability of reducing the numbers permanently institutionalised. As the Deputy is aware, there are a variety of sociological factors and there is a variety in the character of the patients in the hospitals, including patients of a psycho-geriatric or geriatric character. The figures by themselves would have to be re-interpreted.
Would the Minister not agree that that is an over-simplicised approach to the matter, that in fact, these people are being held in custody—admittedly, benevolent jail— but they are being held in custody? It is a very serious matter to hold in custody a person who does not have to be so held. There must be some element of that in this situation now.
It would take me too long to give the Deputy again the general policy in regard to dealing with mental illness. The policy involves reducing the number of persons in mental hospitals.
Would the Minister be able to tell us if he has come up with any plan, in consultation with the psychiatrists concerned, about the release of a number of these persons and making provision for them outside?
Of course, it would take me too long to give replies to all this. The Deputy can raise it on the Health Estimate. A number of psychiatric nurses are employed outside the mental hospitals and are visiting persons in their homes. That policy is being promoted and expanded throughout the service.
When I raise this matter on the Estimate the Minister will refuse to answer.
Would the Minister not agree that if it were happening in prisons that people were being kept in unnecessarily because of social or other reasons, there would be great concern in the community? These are innocent people who went there originally because they were ill but are being kept there now for reasons the Minister does not seem to understand.
The Deputy is over-simplifying.
They are being institutionalised now.