Vol. 405 No. 9
177 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if arrangements have been finalised for the transfer from St. Finian's Hospital, Killarney, County Kerry, to the Regional Hospital, Tralee, of the psychiatric admission unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The necessary arrangements in relation to the commissioning of the acute psychiatric unit in Tralee General Hospital are progressing well and it is expected that the unit will open later this year. The new unit will provide acute psychiatric admission facilities for Kerry. This development will free up the existing acute unit at St. Finan's and will enable the Southern Health Board to transfer patients in the main hospital building at St. Finan's to improved accommodation in the vacated unit. The operation of an acute psychiatric unit in a general hospital environment is in line with policy on the development of a modern psychiatric service as outlined in Planning for the Future.
