Michael Bell
Ceist:65 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons with a mental handicap in psychiatric hospitals; if these admissions are still being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22842/99]
Written Answers. - Mental Health Patients.
At 31 December 1998 a total of 746 patients with a mental handicap were accommodated in psychiatric hospitals. This figure includes 283 patients in St. Joseph's Mental Handicap Service in St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane. It has been accepted policy for a number of years not to admit persons with mental handicap to psychiatric hospitals unless they require psychiatric treatment and the health boards, in general, have ceased admitting long-term mental handicap patients to their services. The trend in recent years has been to transfer persons with a mental handicap, for whom it is appropriate, from the psychiatric services to mental handicap centres. The health boards are continuing to develop more appropriate settings in community residential accommodation which provide a high quality standard of care.