Italy psychiatrists warn of dangers in closing special wards
Lack of appropriate structures could lead to greater public risk
14 February, 18:01
(ANSA) - Rome, February 14 - Italy's psychiatrists'
association SIP warned members of the parliament on Thursday
that unless a decree calling for the closing of specialized
units in hospitals starting April 1 is rolled back, the country
would be unprepared to deal with the consequences.In hearings before Italy's lower house of parliament, representatives of the association said that alternative structures to house psychiatric patients were lacking and of the ones existing, "some of them were dangerous". Timing is also a problem, SIP said, pointing to the 60-day period being given to regions to find alternative housing to these patients. SIP also denounced the lack of professional psychiatric help available to inmates in prisons, where many of the patients expelled from the specialized units will be sent. The influx will add to the more than 10,000 inmates (15% of the total) who are considered psychologically disturbed or have other sorts of infectious or drug-related conditions.
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