asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse his decision announced in January 1986 to close St. Patrick's psychiatric hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon.
14.
Written Answers. - Closure of Psychiatric Hospitals.
12.
asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow, and St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea; if progress has been made by him in consultation with the unions and the health boards and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 14 together. Discussions are continuing with the South-Eastern and Eastern Health Boards in relation to St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow which serves County Carlow and County Kildare and with the Western Health Board in relation to St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea which serves County Roscommon. The development of alternative community-based psychiatric services is in progress.
In relation to County Carlow, it has been agreed that an acute psychiatric unit, including a day hospital, will be provided in an existing building, Kelvin Grove in Carlow. A schedule of accommodation has been agreed for this unit and the planning of the necessary adaptation works is going ahead. This unit should be ready early next year. When it is in operation it will take all psychiatric admissions from County Carlow.
The South-Eastern Health Board have set up a rehabilitation unit in St. Dympna's Hospital where a number of patients are being prepared for discharge to community residences. Community residences are being provided for these patients. It has been agreed that part of St. Dympna's hospital will be designated as a geriatric unit and part as a mental handicap unit for geriatric and mentally handicapped patients now resident in the hospital. Plans are being prepared for the provision of further community facilities in County Carlow.
In relation to County Kildare, a new psychiatric unit, including a day hospital, is being planned as a priority development at Naas general hospital. It is expected that planning will be completed early in 1987 and that the unit will be built early in 1988. A building and site have been acquired at Kildare town for use as a sector headquarters and mental health centre for mid-Kildare. A new building which will be built on this site will be used initially as an acute psychiatric unit and later, when the unit has been built at Naas, as a high-support hostel. In Castledermot an existing dispensary building is being prepared for use as a sector headquarters and mental health centre for south Kildare.
Discussions are taking place between the Eastern and South-Eastern Health Boards on the transfer to the Kildare services of patients from County Kildare who are now in St. Dympna's hospital.
In relation to St. Patrick's hospital, Castlerea, discussions are continuing with the Western Health Board regarding:
the provision of an acute psychiatric unit at Roscommon general hospital;
the designation of part of St. Patrick's Hospital as a geriatric unit for the care of elderly patients who are now in the hospital;
the provision of day centres and community residences in Strokestown, Ballaghadereen, Castlerea and Boyle;
the provision of workshop facilities at the Sacred Heart Home, Roscommon;
the transfer of mentally handicapped patients from St. Patrick's Hospital to the mental handicap service of the Brothers of Charity in Roscommon.
I am satisfied that considerable progress has been made to enable the appropriate transfer of services from the two hospitals and the development of psychiatric services in the community. These developments will facilitate the closure of the two hospitals as psychiatric hospitals and I do not propose to reverse this decision.