National Preventive Mechanism
¾¾ More training possibilities for specialists in the child and adolescent
psychiatry specialty field are urgently needed.
2.2.3 Improper placement of a long-term patient in a psychiatric facility
has been ended
On the occasion of a site visit, Commission 1 found that in the Hall Regional
Hospital several persons were being cared for primarily as inpatients because,
despite efforts by the hospital, no suitable facilities for external after-care
could be found.
Insufficient care
facilities
For example, a patient has been under psychiatric care as an inpatient
for around 20 years with only a few release periods. His medical condition
is characterised by both calm phases and seizure-like impulse outbursts
accompanied by dysphoria and aggressive behaviour toward both objects
and people. An outpatient facility would only be suitable for his after-care
if it is ensured that it has sufficient staff with appropriate qualifications in
psychiatric care.
However, the search for such a suitable facility for this patient has been
extremely difficult. He was in a residential home for some time but it was
unclear whether Tyrol would provide the necessary funds for his care in this
facility in order to guarantee adequate care.
In the course of an investigative proceeding, it was possible, however, to find
a facility that offered to provide suitable housing and care for this patient
outside a psychiatric facility.
Care availability
This case is an example that the existing system of care outside of a psychiatric
ward or facility and allocation of patients is overwhelmed, especially in
difficult cases.
Structural problems
In the course of the reform of the psychiatric system, a broad-based deinstitutionalisation, differentiation and qualification of care of persons
with chronic mental impairments has taken place, resulting in a significant
improvement of the living conditions of affected persons and of the care
they receive. It is necessary, however, to eliminate care deficits with regard to
persons who alternate between active phases of their disorder and phases of
more or less intact health and who continue to require psychiatric care and
rehabilitation.
It would be urgently necessary to provide more support throughout Austria
with regard to residential facilities for persons with chronic mental disorders,
particularly those diagnosed with schizophrenia with pronounced symptoms,
co-morbid disorders or a forensic history and for people with psycho-mental
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