Tony Killeen
Ceist:91 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health the hospitals, if any, which were closed in each of the years from 1993 to 1996; and if he will make a statement on his future policy in this area. [7615/97]
Written Answers - Hospital Closures.
Limerick East): The only acute hospital to close in the period referred to by the Deputy was Waterford Maternity Hospital. This hospital closed in 1995 and its services transferred to the new Waterford Regional Hospital. In relation to future policy in the acute hospital area, I would like to stress that I have no plans to close any hospitals.
The Deputy will be aware that there has been a shift in the delivery of care for those with mental illness from a predominantly institutional to community-based intervention as recommended in the report, Planning for the Future, which was published in 1984 and which has been accepted as mental health policy by successive Governments. In line with two key recommendations of the report health boards are developing a comprehensive range of community-based services including day hospitals, day centres and community residential accommodation. Acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals are also being developed and there are now 16 such units nationwide. It is the intention to establish more of these units over the next decade as capital resources allow.
The implementation of this policy has resulted in the transfer of services from a number of hospitals to alternative community-based facilities resulting in the closure of those hospitals. In the period referred to in the question the following hospitals were closed:
1. Southern Health Board
— St. Anne's Hospital, Skibbereen, which was the in-patient base for the west Cork catchment area, closed in 1996 and now functions as a high support community residence. Acute in-patient services are being provided at a new acute psychiatric unit at Bantry General Hospital.
— St. Coleman's Hospital, Macroom, which provided in-patient care for elderly patients with mental illness and with a mental handicap, also closed in 1996. Patients have been relocated to more appropriate alternative dedicated community residential accommodation and it is the intention of the board that the hospital will in the future function as a sector headquarters within the catchment area.
2. Western Health Board
— St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon, closed in 1996 and was transferred to the Department of Justice. Former patients have been relocated to appropriate alternative dedicated community residential accommodation. Acute in-patient services are being provided at the psychiatric unit, Roscommon General Hospital.