Vol. 401 No. 5
6 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the present position regarding the removal of the acute psychiatric unit from St. Finian's Hospital, Killarney to Tralee General Hospital, County Kerry.
As part of the development of psychiatric services in County Kerry in accordance with the policy outlined in the report, Planning for the Future, the Southern health Board intend to transfer acute psychiatric facilities from St. Finan's Hospital, Killarney to Tralee General Hospital. Discussions have been held between health board management and officers of my Department regarding the steps necessary to commission the acute psychiatric unit at Tralee General Hospital and it is hoped to open this unit later in the year. Facilities for other categories of patients will of course continue to be provided at St. Finan's Hospital.
This is a very welcome development. Nevertheless there will be a huge cost factor involved as regards both staffing and equipping this new unit. Is the Minister making a special contribution to the Southern Health Board to provide for the extra staffing and extra equipment in order to make it a smooth transition between Killarney and Tralee?
I understand discussions have taken place between officials of my Department and the Southern Health Board and agreement has been reached on the level of resources and the time scale for the opening of the hospital.
In view of the fact that extra funding will be demanded, is the Minister prepared to make an extra allowance for the Southern Health Board, in view of their budgetary constraints, for this change?
I do not have the details of the financing arangements entered into. As the Deputy is aware discussions have taken place between officials in my Department and officials of the Southern Health Board. There is agreement, I understand, on the movement of the patients to Tralee.
What plans are there for the acute psychiatric unit in Killarney now that it will be vacated.
That is not in the question. As I have told the Deputy, the move to Tralee is in keeping with the psychiatric services planned for the future which recommend the development of a community-based psychiatric service and that patients who suffer from acute mental illness should be treated in a general hospital rather than in a psychiatric hospital. Allied to that, as the Deputy is aware, in Kerry there are a number of other facilities, 13 community hospitals, day hospitals and workshops. Other than the acute psychiatric patients being treated in the general hospital in Tralee, patients who need hospital care will continue to be treated in St. Finan's Hospital in Killarney. I will communicate with the Deputy about what is envisaged for the premises that will now become vacant.
Do I take it from the Minister that it is now the policy to have acute psychiatric patients accommodated in the general hospital system? If that is the case how is the difference to be worked out between the programme for psychiatric hospitals and for general hospitals within the health board?
Deputy Sherlock will appreciate that I cannot allow an extension of a question which deals essentially with the health service in County Kerry.
