Fall in psychiatric hospital admissions

THE total number of patients being admitted to psychiatric hospitals is continuing to fall, according to the 2004 annual report on the psychiatric services in Ireland.

However, the report which is published by the Health Research Board, shows that there has been a corresponding increase in admissions to psychiatric units based in general hospitals.

Overall, the report shows that the number of admissions for psychiatric care fell by more than 3% to 22,279 last year.