A NEW study of mental health care in Limerick city indicates that community based services can be as successful as in patient care in the treatment of some mentally ill patients.
"Alternative Acute Care - A Study in Mental Health Care" examined the effectiveness of patient treatment in the acute psychiatric unit at Limerick Regional Hospital and in St Anne's Day Hospital. The report, published by the MidWestern Health Board, found major psychiatric illnesses can be treated in the community without in patient hospital admission.
It stated patients in the three categories of major psychiatric illness may be successfully treated in the acute psychiatric unit or a day hospital. MidWestern Health Board assistant executive, Stiofin de Burca, said: "Given the costs associated with in patient treatment, the results for clinical outcome and social functioning are encouraging, since they suggest that the less costly day hospital treatment option is no less effective."