Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
237. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at the €2.8 million invested in an acute mental health facility in St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe which is now intended to be used for administrative purposes; if there will there be an investigation by his Department regarding this waste of money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40196/13]
View answer245. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the reason €2.8 million was invested in an acute mental health facility in St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, if it was intended not to use it; his views on this waste of scarce public money; if there will be an investigation by his Department regarding this waste of money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40187/13]
View answer246. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department approved the expenditure of €2.8 million of capital funding for the refurbishment of an acute mental health facility at St. Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe, County Galway; if so, what were the reasons for the investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/13]
View answer247. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been invested in each year since 2010 in the acute mental health facilities in St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe which are now intended to be used for administrative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40189/13]
View answer248. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the amount it will cost to convert the recently refurbished acute mental health facilities in St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe for its use as administrative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40190/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 245 to 248, inclusive, together.
The Galway and Roscommon Mental Health Services area has been resourced to implement A Vision for Change in order to modernise mental health services in the locality. The reconfiguration of services is in line with national policy, and with similar initiatives undertaken or planned elsewhere in the country. It clearly underpins the commitment of the Government to progress further implementation of A Vision for Change in line with evolving service priorities and overall resource availability.
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, as envisaged under 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. This initiative will not give rise to any job losses, and there will be no negative impact for existing patients in Ballinasloe.
I am assured by the HSE that the capital investment for the development referred to the Deputy was necessary as the facility required certain infrastructural works to be carried out. In addition, the intention was to refurbish the facility so that it could be adaptable for use for both administrative and front line services. The works were therefore designed to optimise flexibility around future service delivery, including for acute or community based mental health provision.
Each year the HSE multi-annual Capital Plan requires the approval of the Minister for Health, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This project was included in the HSE capital programme which was approved by the Minister for Health. Approval to commence the specific works was given by HSE Estates, in accordance with normal procedures for capital developments of this nature.
In relation to amounts invested at St Bridget's Hospital, Ballinasloe since 2010, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply on these details.
