Dr. Sinead O'Brien:

The first key difference is the level of staffing in a continuing care unit. For example, in the Owenacurra centre there are four staff on duty. That staffing level was increased due to concern relating to the premises. In a high-support hostel, however, there are two nurses by day and one nurse by night with a health care assistant. The level of staffing reflects the degree of support individuals need. Although we focus on the great work our nursing colleagues provide, I must emphasise the importance of a full multidisciplinary team because individuals need to benefit from other disciplines such as social work, occupational therapy and clinical psychology. We have the advantage of a new rehabilitation psychiatry team being introduced for Cork, which is most welcome and will, no doubt, benefit individuals in both the continuing care units and the high-support hostels.