An audit of acute psychiatric admission bed occupancy in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Section (Irish Division) of the Royal College of Psychiatrists were requested to investigate apparent increasing pressures on acute psychiatric beds. Information on bed occupancy and associated service activity was collected by clinicians on site in every psychiatric unit in Northern Ireland over the past eight years. Three separate years (1987, 1991 and 1995) were studied. Bed occupancy rose across these three years. There was an associated reduction in the number of acute psychiatric beds, reduction in adult continuing care beds, increased recorded referrals to psychiatric units and evidence of considerable numbers of new long-stay patients and difficulties with community placements. Acute bed occupancy in Northern Ireland is high, frequently over 100% and rising. Occupancy rose between each of the years studied. The problem is not confined to urban areas and several associated service factors may be contributing. Without change, acute bed provision will inevitably fail to match mental health needs.