Ivor Callely
Ceist:179 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the number of voluntary and involuntary admissions to psychiatric hospitals in each health board area for 1991; and comparative figures for 1961, 1971 and 1981.
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Hospitals Admissions.
Statistics for admissions to psychiatric hospitals are recorded by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health. The statistics for admissions in the years 1961, 1971 and 1981 do not record the legal status of the patient. The first year in which the legal status of admissions was recorded was in 1982. Of the 28,778 admissions in that year, 25,295 were voluntary and 3,483 were involuntary.
The most recent year in which the number of voluntary and involuntary admissions to psychiatric hospitals is available is in respect of 1988. During 1988 there were 28,432 admissions of which 24,992 were voluntary and 3,440 were involuntary. Figures for involuntary and voluntary admissions for these years by health boards are not available.