Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
12. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to close the 22-bed mental health unit at St. Brigid’s, Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40034/13]
View answer22. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will undertake an independent review of the acute mental health services in counties Roscommon and Galway; the implications of any reconfiguration on the operation of emergency departments/urgent care centres in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39923/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 22 together.
Galway and Roscommon Mental Health Services, which operates as one administrative unit, has been resourced to implement A Vision for Change, to modernise the service and give better outcomes for both patients and staff. Existing resources therefore need to be reshaped, and the priority now is to achieve this in this instance, in line with similar initiatives elsewhere.
At present, there are 35 acute psychiatric beds in Galway city, and 22 acute psychiatric beds in both Ballinasloe and Roscommon. This gives a total of 79 beds, serving a population of around 315,000. A Vision for Change recommends 50 beds for a catchment population of 300,000. It is clear therefore, in line with policy and operational norms nationally, that the provision of 22 beds in both Ballinasloe and Roscommon means that the current overall stock of 79 in HSE West is too high in relative terms, allied to a corresponding under-development of community based mental health services.
To address this situation, a purpose built 50 bed acute mental health unit will be completed in Galway University Hospital in 2015, to replace the existing smaller unit. This Unit will consist of 35 general adult mental health beds, with the remaining 15 beds relating to psychiatry of later life, eating disorders, and mental health and intellectual disability. The acute unit in Roscommon will continue to provide 22 general adult mental health beds.
The re-organisation of services by HSE West will provide a total of 57 general adult mental health beds. This will be a sufficient number of acute psychiatric beds, in line with A Vision for Change, while allowing the Executive to enhance much needed community based services through re-deployment of some staff from acute services. It is intended that staff from St. Brigid’s, Ballinasloe will be redeployed on a phased basis, to both community mental health teams locally and to the acute units in Galway and Roscommon. I wish to stress that this initiative will not give rise to any job losses, and there will be no negative impact for the existing patients in Ballinasloe.
I am satisfied that the approach adopted by the HSE in this matter is in line with the requirements to deliver A Vision for Change in the Galway/Roscommon area, and is fully consistent with similiar initiatives taken elsewhere in the country to modernise our mental health services. This includes taking account of all related services and skill mix availability in the region, as well as other relevant criteria such as geographic and transport considerations, to realise the best options available within available resources.
I and HSE management recently met with local and union representatives and listened to the concerns of all involved. As agreed at that meeting, the HSE will continue to engage with all parties around service re-organisation in the Galway/Roscommon area. I am satisfied that this is the most appropriate approach to ensure the continued implementation of A Vision for Change in that region.
