Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the female open unit in St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman, Dublin, is not amalgamated with the female high security unit for the proposed four week period from the middle of December to the middle of January 2012; if he will ensure that best medical practice is maintained either through overtime or by providing additional temporary staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40484/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The transfer of patients referred to by the Deputy is in respect of 5 patients moving from an open unit to a low secure ward; the transfers are taking place following appropriate clinical assessment. However, it is I believe highly regrettable that it is necessary to amalgamate the two units in question over the Christmas period, and I completely understand the distress caused by the decision. It is clear, given the current shortage of psychiatric nursing staff in Dublin North West Mental Health Services, that the HSE has been left with no option but to devise a contingency arrangement so as to ensure both patient safety and continuity of services. However, I have been assured that this is purely a temporary measure and Unit 3B will reopen on the 16th January next, if not earlier.

I have concerns that because of the mature age profile of its staff, the moratorium on recruitment has impacted disproportionately on the mental health service. This is an issue that is already the subject of discussions between officials of my Department and the HSE, and I intend to pursue this matter further to achieve an appropriate result in order to ensure the quality and safety of our mental health services into the future.