Written Answers. - Mental Ill-Health Statistics.
John F. O'Connell
Ceist:
390
Dr. O'Connell
asked the
Minister for Health
if she will give details for 1991 of (1) the proportion of the total health budget spent on mental ill-health (2) the percentage of inpatient costs attributable to mental ill-health (3) the percentage of pharmaceutical charges attributable to mental ill-health (4) the total estimated annual cost of mental illness (5) the number of patients detained under the Mental Health Act (6) the proportion of mental health expenditure which is spent on local facilities (7) the number of psychiatric patients in hospitals in Ireland at the latest available date (8) the total mental health budget (9) the percentage of the mental health budget spent on psychiatric patients in hospitals and (10) the number of severely mentally disabled people living in the community and the percentage of the mental health budget spent on them.
I am aware that the Deputy was in touch with my Department last week concerning the data requested in his written question. The details requested in respect of items (1), (3), (5), (7), (8) and (10) are as follows:
(1) 10.4 per cent.
(3) The percentage ingredient cost of hypnotics, sedatives and anti-convulsants, tranquillisers, anti-depressants and stimulants dispensed under the general medical services scheme was 9.9 per cent. The general medical services scheme provides drugs, medicines and general practitioner services free of charge to over 35 per cent of the population. The percentage of pharmaceutical charges attributable to mental ill-health in respect of the remainder of the population is not available.
(5) A total of 1,468 in respect of 1990 (latest available).
(7) A total of 7,334 at 31 December 1990 (latest available).
(8) A total of £191.3 million.
(10) At 31 December 1990, 2,424 persons were receiving care in psychiatric day care facilities and 2,081 persons were cared for in high, medium and low support hostels. Community facilities are not designed to care for persons suffering severe mental illness as persons are assessed prior to placement to ensure that they can cope in community settings.
The percentage costs requested under items (2), (6), (9) and (10) are not available since the psychiatric service is now run as an integrated service and as such costs are not separated for the various components.
The information requested under item (4) is not available but for the Deputy's information my Department spent approximately £180 million on the health and welfare of people with a mental handicap.
