No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Psychiatric units in general hospitals — the Irish experience
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 June 2014
Abstract
Objective: Psychiatric units in general hospitals are becoming a key feature of Irish psychiatric practice. This is in accordance with national policy as laid down in “Planning for the Future” in 1984. To date these units have not been the subject of much research. This paper presents baseline data, gives some clinical impressions of how these units are operating, and discusses the implications of these findings. Method: Questionnaires were sent to the medical directors of all 12 psychiatric units in general hospitals in Ireland. In addition, statistical data was collected from the Health Research Board and from the Mental Health Services Section of the Department of Health. Results: All the questionnaires were returned and the results showed that these units were operating in a largely self sufficient way with little usage of local psychiatric hospitals. Outside Dublin 35% of all Health Board admissions are now going to such units, a figure comparable to England and Wales. There was little evidence of patient selectivity as units seemed to be treating the full range of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion: The picture given of general hospital units in Ireland is, in the main, very encouraging. The main problems encountered were the management of disturbed patients and the heavy demands of liaison psychiatry and these two areas would need to be further researched.
- Type
- Practice Review
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992
References
1.Lynch, T. St. Declan's - the first psychiatric unit in a general hospital in Ireland. Journal of the Irish Medical Association 1969; 62: 11–18.Google Scholar
2. Commission of Enquiry into Mental Illness in Ireland. Dublin: The Stationary Office, 1966.Google Scholar
3.Robins, J. Fools and mad: a history of the insane in Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration, 1986: 205.Google Scholar
5.Mayou, R. The history of general hospital psychiatry. Br. J Psychiatry 1989; 155: 764–776.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Mayou, R. A survey of liaison psychiatry in the United Kingdom and Eire. Psychiatric Bulletin 1985; 9: 214–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Mayou, R, Anderson, H, Feinmann, C, Hodgson, G, Jenkins, P. The present state of consultation and liaison psychiatry. Psychiatric Bulletin 1990; 14: 321–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Activities of Irish psychiatric hospitals and units. Dublin: Health Reseach Board, 1988.Google Scholar
9.O'Beirne, M, Fahy, TJ. The impact of a general hospital psychiatric unit on established patterns of psychiatric care. Ir J Psychol Med 1988; 5: 85–88.Google Scholar
10.Marshall, EJ, Dinan, TG. Hackney: lessons in community psychiatry. Irish Journal of Psychiatry 1988; 9 (2): 3–9.Google Scholar
11.Webb, M. Hackney: lessons in community psychiatry - a response. Irish Journal of Psychiatry 1989; 10 (1): 17–19.Google Scholar
12.Schofield, MB, Doonan, H, Daly, RJ. Liaison psychiatry in an Irish hospital: a survey of a year's experience. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1986; 8, 119–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Larkin, C, Horgan, R, Carmody, R, Walsh, N. Psychiatric consultation in an Irish general hospital. In: Lacey, JH, Sturgeon, DA, editors. Proceedings of the 15th European conference on psychosomatic research. London: John Libbey and Company, 1986.Google Scholar
14.Lipowski, ZJ. Review of consultation psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine - II: clinical aspects. Psychosom Med 1967; 29: 201–224.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Llyod, GG. Liaison psychiatry from a British perspective. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1980; 2: 46–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar