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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Bed-blocking hits mental services | Bed-blocking hits mental services |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A lack of community housing and services is preventing people with mental health problems being discharged from hospital, a survey has suggested. | A lack of community housing and services is preventing people with mental health problems being discharged from hospital, a survey has suggested. |
| The Royal College of Psychiatrists said overcrowded wards were not due to a lack of beds, but because there was nowhere suitable for patients to go. | The Royal College of Psychiatrists said overcrowded wards were not due to a lack of beds, but because there was nowhere suitable for patients to go. |
| It found that about a fifth of adult acute psychiatric beds were occupied by people who no longer need to be there. | It found that about a fifth of adult acute psychiatric beds were occupied by people who no longer need to be there. |
| Many of these patients have complex behavioural problems. | Many of these patients have complex behavioural problems. |
| These include challenging anti-social behaviour or drug and alcohol issues. | These include challenging anti-social behaviour or drug and alcohol issues. |
| Once they receive hospital treatment attempts are made to provide a care package back in the community. | Once they receive hospital treatment attempts are made to provide a care package back in the community. |
| But the survey of consultant psychiatrists, ward managers, patients and carers found an extreme lack of facilities. | |
| Psychiatrists said they were concerned that the shortage of community provision leads to overcrowding of wards and undermines patient care for those who do need to be in hospital. | |
| Dr Philip McGarry, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Northern Ireland, said there was a lack of services for people with chronic and sever mental health problems. | |
| "Psychiatrists are frustrated that we are having to keep people in hospital who don't need to be there and yet may have to send one of our own patients to a hospital in another area," he said. | "Psychiatrists are frustrated that we are having to keep people in hospital who don't need to be there and yet may have to send one of our own patients to a hospital in another area," he said. |
| "Overcrowded wards are not acceptable environments for patients, or for staff, and can affect not only a patient's privacy and dignity, but also the care they get." | "Overcrowded wards are not acceptable environments for patients, or for staff, and can affect not only a patient's privacy and dignity, but also the care they get." |
| The Department of Health is keen to roll out more services into the community and away from hospital wards. | The Department of Health is keen to roll out more services into the community and away from hospital wards. |
| But this is proving costly and with current financial constraints there is concern that health trusts are unable to deliver appropriate services. | But this is proving costly and with current financial constraints there is concern that health trusts are unable to deliver appropriate services. |
| The survey was carried out in May this year. | |
| Consultant medical staff, ward managers, service users and carers were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire regarding their experiences of inpatient services concentrating on: access to services, the physical and therapeutic environment of the ward and bed occupancy. |