Vol. 516 No. 6
290 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on comments by a medical practitioner and member of a health board that the policy of providing care in the community for patients who should be institutionalised in psychiatric hospitals is a danger to the public; the plans, if any, he has to revise this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9030/00]
In 1984, the Government published Planning for the Future, the report of a study group set up to examine our psychiatric services. The report recommended that psychiatric care should be primarily community based and that there should be a shift away from the psychiatric hospital being the focal point of the service. Successive Governments have adopted this policy and the shift in mental health care from an institutional to a community-based setting has resulted in many improvements. As a result, a considerable number of people with mental illness can now live normal and fulfilling lives in their own communities.
The aim is to provide each individual patient with the best possible care in the most appropriate setting. Community care is not always the most suitable method of care and in a number of cases in-patient treatment is required. Medical practitioners are responsible for decisions on whether to admit or discharge patients from in-patient care and patients are only discharged from in-patient care when their clinical condition warrants it.
In view of the positive benefits that have resulted for so many patients there are no plans to revise the Government's policy in this area.
