More than 630 adult admissions to UHG psychiatric unit

There were more than 630 adult admissions to the psychiatric unit at University Hospital Galway last year.

And a further 95 admissions were made to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the Westside.

A new report from the Health Research Board shows the majority of adult admissions (348) were in the 20-44 age bracket, 182 were in the 45-64 age bracket; 74 were 65 and over, and 32 were under 20 years of age.

Of the total of 636 adult admissions to the unit in Galway, 283 were first time admissions. The majority of admissions (172) were diagnosed with schizophrenia and delusional disorders; 147 for depressive disorders; 112 for neuroses; 93 for mania; 62 for personality and behavioural disorders, 18 for alcoholic disorders; 15 for other drug disorders and 11 for organic mental disorders.

A further two were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, two with development disorders and two more people classed as ‘other and unspecified’.

Of the first time admissions, the majority (79) were for depressive disorders.

In 2016, there were a total of 638 discharges from the UHG unit, while there was one death.

The report shows that the average stay in the unit for adult admissions was 32.5 days.

The majority of adult admissions (220) were discharged in less than a week; 141 in one to two weeks; 123 in 2-4 weeks; 128 in 1-3 months and 22 in three months to one year.

A further four admissions were in the unit for between one and five years and one person for between five and ten years.

At the CAMHS unit in the Westside, there were 95 admissions last year, of these, 66 were first time admissions.