Pat Carey
Question:513 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of public beds available in the Northern Area Health Board area for psychiatric patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15347/03]
Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.
I am informed by the Northern Area Health Board that there are currently 541 public hospital beds available in its area for psychiatric patients.
In this connection also, a new acute psychiatric unit is currently nearing completion at James Connolly Memorial Hospital. The new unit will be a 56-bed unit comprising 44 acute psychiatric beds, six high observation beds and six beds for the psychiatry of later life. Patients from the existing unit 9 at James Connolly Memorial Hospital will be relocated to the new unit along with patients from a 22-bed unit at St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman. The new acute psychiatric unit will provide bright and spacious accommodation for patients as part of the integrated services available at James Connolly Memorial Hospital.
The Deputy may also be interested to know that the Northern Area Health Board also operates 36 community residences within its area, providing a further 404 residential places to persons suffering mental illness.