The number of people in psychiatric hospitals continues to decline, according to the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals for 2003, which has been published today.
It shows there were 3,701 inpatients in psychiatric hospitals last year, a drop of several hundred compared with the previous year.
The report says that only a small number of services have developed to provide modern outreach and home based services.
However, it points to positive improvements such as the opening of new psychiatric units at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny and at Castlebar General in Mayo.
This is the final report under the current inspectorate, which makes way for the Mental Health Commission and a new inspection system.
