Treatments for hundreds of mental health patients are being delayed due to a 'total absence' of community support services.
The Mental Health Commission (MHC) is warning that a major shortage of specialist services outside the acute hospital system.
In a discussion paper published today, the commission said patients experiencing mental illness are being placed in acute units because they have no access to psychiatric intensive care.
It said the situation is adding to the overcrowding crisis in acute hospital facilities.
Mental Health
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, MHC Chief Executive John Farrelly said the situation is stark.
“What it is resulting in is that people can’t get treated in the area where they need to be treated,” he said.
“In your local area, if you become unwell, the first place you tend to go to is your GP, you end up going to A&E and you will be lucky if you get a bed in a unit.
“Whereas, if these crisis houses with high supports and services in the community were built in, people would be getting looked after properly at the earliest point when they become unwell.”
Community
He said the lack of community-based services – including crisis houses, intensive high-support hostels, rehabilitation high-support hostels, specialist rehabilitative units and psychiatric intensive care units – was highlighted in the ‘A Vision For Change’ policy document published in 2006.
“From our point of view, we are posing the question, ‘if we had a strong policy document in terms of mental health 16 years ago, why don’t we make sure that is delivered?’” he asked.
“Who is accountable for making sure this is delivered?
“Really, we should set about now making sure that we drive accountability into the system so we deliver for people throughout Ireland.”
The paper also warns that there is a severe lack of mental health beds for older people – with less than half the amount recommended by ‘A Vision for Change.’
It noted that three acute units that were purpose-built for older adults are being used for other purposes.
