Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:09:28.420Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An audit of new long-stay patients in Irish psychiatric inpatient services

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Antoinette Daly  and
Dermot Walsh
Antoinette Daly*
Affiliation:
Mental Health Research Unit, Health Research Board, Knockmaun House, 42-47 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Dermot Walsh
Affiliation:
Mental Health Research Unit, Health Research Board, Knockmaun House, 42-47 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
*
*Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: The most recent census of psychiatric inpatients (Daly and Walsh, 2006) examined the decline of the long-stay population (both new and old long-stay) from 1963 to 2006. The aim of the present study was to identify new long-stay patients (patients in hospital between one and five years) in the 2006 psychiatric in-patient census and follow them up one year later to determine the number remaining as inpatients, ie. not having been discharged

Methods: New long-stay patients were extracted from the 2006 psychiatric inpatient census data base and were followed up one year later.

Results: Sixty-eight per cent (315/460) of new longstay patients on 31/03/06 were still resident in units and hospitals one year later on 31/03/07, the majority in psychiatric hospitals Forty-two per cent (133/315) of patients had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, 13% (40/315) of depressive disorder, 11% (33/315) of organic mental disorder and 8% of intellectual disability (24/315). The number of new long-stay patients discharged or who died showed a sharp decline on previous years.

Conclusions: Unless current services are improved and extended as advocated in A Vision for Change, it will be a number of years before this population leaves psychiatric hospitals and such hospitals can close because of the lack of suitable alternatives. In accordance with policy recommendations, the continuing requirement for the development of specialised rehabilitation services to cater for the broad needs of those who remain in psychiatric hospitals is of the utmost importance.

Keywords

Psychiatric inpatientCensusNew long-stay patientsService requirements
Type
Audit
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , September 2009 , pp. 134 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Daly, A and Walsh, D. Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals Census 2006. 2006; Health Research Board, Dublin.Google Scholar
2.Department of Health and Children. A Vision for Change. Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. 2006; Stationery Office, Dublin.Google Scholar
3.Department of Health. Commission of Inquiry on Mental Illness 1966 Report. 1966; Stationery Office, Dublin.Google Scholar
4.Department of Health. The Psychiatric Services – Planning for the Future. 1984; Stationery Office, Dublin.Google Scholar
5.Daly, A, Walsh, D, Ward, M, Moran, R. Activities of Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals 2006. 2007; Health Research Board, Dublin.Google Scholar
6.Lelliott, P, Wing, J, Clifford, P. A National Audit of new long-stay psychiatric patients I: Method and description of the cohort. Brit J Psychiat 1994; 165: 160–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Lelliott, P and Wing, J. A National Audit of new long-stay psychiatric patients Il: Impact on services. Brit J Psychiat 1994; 165: 170–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Cowan, C and Walker, P. New long-stay patients in a psychiatric admission ward setting. Psychiatric Bulletin 2005; 29: 452–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Shepherd, G, Beardsmore, A, Moore, Cet al.Relation between bed use, social deprivation, and overall bed availability in adult acute psychiatric units, and alternative residential options: a cross-sectional survey, one day census data, and staff interviews. BMJ 1997; 314: 262–66.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Keogh, F, Roche, A & Walsh, D. “We Have No Beds.…” An enquiry into the availability and use of Acute Psychiatric Beds in the Eastern Health Board region. 1999; Health Research Board, Dublin.Google Scholar
11.Gannon, M, Meagher, D, Johnson, J, Mirza, H, Farren, C. A survey of new long-stay hospital patients in an Irish health board area. Psychiatr Serv 1995; 46: 394–98.Google Scholar
13.Farragher, B, Fahy, S, Carey, T, Owens, J. Towards mental hospital closure – a study of a residual long-stay population. Ir J Psych Med 2006 1999; 16(3): 93–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Tedstone Doherty, D, Walsh, D, Moran, R. (2007) Happy Living Here.…. A Survey and Evaluation of Community Residential Mental Health Services in Ireland. 2007; Health Research Board, Dublin.Google Scholar
15.Wrigley, M, Murphy, B, Farrell, M, Cassidy, B, Ryan, J. Older people with enduring or recurrent severe mental illness in the Eastern Region of Ireland. Ir J Psych Med 2006; 23(4): 145–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Burns, T, Knapp, M; Catty, J; Healey, A; Henderson, J; Watt, H; Wright, C. Home treatment of mental heath problems: a systematic review. Health Technology Assessment 2001; 5(15). http://www.hta.nhsweb.nhs.uk/fullmono/mon515.pdfGoogle Scholar
17.Jethwa, K, Galappathie, N and Hewson, P. Effects of a crisis resolution and home treatment team on in-patient admissions. Psychiatric Bulletin 2007; 31: 170–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Johnson, S, Nolan, F, Hoult, J, White, JR, Bebbington, P, Sandor, A, McKenzie, N, Patel, SN, Pilling, S. Outcomes of crisis before and after introduction of a crisis resolution team. Brit J Psychiat 2005; 187: 68–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Johnson, S, Nolan, F, Pilling, S, Sandor, A, Hoult, J, McKenzie, N, White, IR, Thompson, M, Bebbington, P. Randomised controlled trial of acute mental health care by a crisis resolution team: the North Islington crisis study. BMJ 2005; 331: 599–602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Gibbons, P and Cocoman, A. Building Blocks: Evaluation of a Home Based Service for Patients with Acute Mental Illness in North Kildare. Health Services Executive, 2006.Google Scholar
21.McCauley, M, Rooney, S, Clarke, C, Carey, T, Owens, J. Home-based treatment in Monaghan: the first two years. IrJ Psych Med 2003; 20(1): 11–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Daly, A, Tedstone Doherty, D, Walsh, D. Reducing the revolving door phenomenon. In preparation. 2008.Google Scholar
23.A Vision for Change Independent Monitoring Group. A Vision for Change – the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. Second Report on implementation 1st February 2007 to 31st January 2008. June 2008; Department of Health and Children, Dublin.Google Scholar
24.Walsh, D and Daly, A. Mental Illness in Ireland 1750-2002. Reflections on the Rise and Fall of Institutional Care. 2004; Health Research Board, Dublin.Google Scholar