Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T03:57:16.384Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Towards mental hospital closure – a study of a residual long-stay population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Barbara Farragher ,
Sabina Fahy ,
Teresa Carey  and
John Owens
Barbara Farragher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Our Lady's Hospital Navan, Co Meath, Ireland
Sabina Fahy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Galway, Ireland
Teresa Carey
Affiliation:
St. Davnet's Hospital, Monaghan, Ireland
John Owens
Affiliation:
St. Davnet's Hospital, Monaghan, Ireland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: To describe an entire long-stay hospita population and examine the differences between the old and new long-stay groups. It outlines the communitybased facilities required for hospital closure to occur.

Method: One hundred and twenty-four patients were assessed using the Community Placement Questionnaire (CPQ), a standardised instrument used in service planning.

Results: The CPQ revealed a globally disabled group with multiple handicaps. The mean age was 68.7 years and the predominant diagnosis was schizophrenia. Though the old long-stay (74) were more disabled than the new long-stay (50), similar sheltered accommodation was required for both groups. The new long-stay required a more active day-care program.

Conclusions: Reprovision for long-stay patients must not only include sheltered accommodation but also appropriate day-care facilities. Assessment of the placement needs of all categories of long-stay patients necessary before hospital closure can take place.

Keywords

Hospital closureCommunity Placement QuestionnaireLong-stay patients
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 93 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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.Tooth, GC, Brooke, EM. Trends in mental hospital population and their effect on future planning. Lancet 1961; i: 710–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Within, MJ, Atay, J, Manderscheid, RW. Trends in state and county mental hospitals in the US from 1970-1992. Psychiatric Services 1996; 47: 1078–81.Google Scholar
3.Thorncroft, G, Bebbington, P. Deinstitutionalisation: from hospital closure to service development. Br J Psychiatry 1989; 155: 739–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Walsh, D. The future of psychiatric services in Ireland. Ir J Psychiatry 1990; 11(2): 5–12.Google Scholar
5.Ford, M, Goddard, C, Lansdall-Welfare, R. The dismantling of the mental hospital? Glenside hospital surveys 1960-1985. Br J Psychiat 1987; 151: 479–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Pryce, IC, Griffiths, RM, Gentr, ICT. The nature and severity of disabilities in long-stay psychiatric inpatients in South Glamorgan. Br J Psychiatry 1991; 158: 817–21.Google Scholar
7.Mann, S, Cree, W. New long-stay psychiatric patients: a national sample survey of 15 mental hospitals in England and Wales 1972/73. Psychol Med 1976; 6: 603–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Levene, LS, Donaldson, U, Brandon, S. How likely is it that a district health authority can close its large mental hospital? Br J Psychiatry 1985;147: 150–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Carey, TG, Owens, JM, Home, P. An analysis of a new long-stay population: the need for mental hospitals. Ir J Psych Med 1993; 10(2): 80–5.Google Scholar
10.Clifford, P. The Community Placement Questionnaire. London: Research and Development for Psychiatry, 1989.Google Scholar
11.Wing, JK, Furlong, R. A haven for the severely disabled within the context of a comprehensive psychiatric community service. Br J Psychiatry 1986; 149: 449–57.Google Scholar
12.O'Driscoll, C. The TAPS Project 7: mental hospital closure – a literature review of outcome studies and evaluative techniques. Br J Psychiatry 1993; 162 (suppl. 19): 7–17.Google Scholar
13.Farragher, B, Carey, T, Owens, J. Long-term follow-up of rehabilitated patients with chronic psychiatric illness in Ireland. Psychiatric Services 1996; 47: 1120–2Google ScholarPubMed
14.Weller, MPI. Mental illness: who cares. Nature 1989; 339: 249–53.Google Scholar
15.Clifford, P, Charman, A, Webb, Yet al.Planning for community care. Long-stay population of hospitals scheduled for rundown or closure. Br J Psychiatry 1991; 158: 190–6.Google Scholar