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Prevalence of housing needs among inpatients: a 1 year audit of housing needs in the acute mental health unit in Tallaght Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2016

J. Cowman  and
P. Whitty
J. Cowman*
Affiliation:
Tallaght Adult Mental Health Service, Sheaf House, Exchange Hall, Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
P. Whitty
Affiliation:
Tallaght Adult Mental Health Service, Sheaf House, Exchange Hall, Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: J. Cowman, Tallaght Adult Mental Health Service, Sheaf House, Exchange Hall, Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland. (Email: john.cowman@hse.ie)
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Abstract

Objective

There is a dearth of information relating to the prevalence of housing needs among psychiatric in-patients in Ireland. Most of the information we have to date emerged as a result of attempts to plan for the closure of old psychiatric hospitals and inappropriate community residences. This study sought to identify the prevalence of housing needs among in-patients in the acute psychiatric unit in Tallaght Hospital.

Methods

Each week, over a 12-month period, nursing managers and/or key nurses who knew the patients well were asked for numerical data. Information was collected on the numbers of in-patients with accommodation needs, number of delayed discharges due to accommodation needs and number of discharges to homeless accommodation in the previous week.

Results

On average, 38% of in-patients had accommodation related needs at any one time. Most (98%) of delayed discharges had accommodation related needs. Delayed discharge in-patients with accommodation needs accounted for 28% of all inpatients and for 72% of all inpatients with accommodation related needs.

Conclusions

Accommodation need among psychiatric in-patients is underreported. Housing need data should be routinely collected and effective interagency strategies developed to address housing needs.

Keywords

Delayed dischargehomelesshousinghousing needshousing pathwaymental health
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , September 2016 , pp. 159 - 164
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2016 

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