John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Sean Fleming for raising this important issue, which I am addressing on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Heath, Deputy Kathleen Lynch.

Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the Inspectorate of Mental Health Services is required to visit and inspect every approved centre annually. Such centres are defined under the Act as "a hospital or other in-patient facility for the care and treatment of persons suffering from mental illness or mental disorder". The inspectorate carried out the 2012 inspection on St. Fintan's Hospital, Portlaoise earlier this year and the report is available to the public on the Mental Health Commission website.

St. Fintan's Hospital is an old Victorian Hospital which was licensed by the Mental Health Commission for 42 beds. There were 43 residents on the day of inspection and these were either elderly or under the care of the rehabilitation team. None of the residents was detained under the Mental Health Act 2001. Staff were described as being caring and knowledgeable and the nursing care and practice was high, with each resident having an individual care plan. The inspectorate was also pleased to highlight improvements and initiatives carried out in the hospital over the past year.

The inspectorate was critical of the fact the hospital continued to admit residents during 2012. This practice had resulted in an increase in the number of residents in the hospital. Ideally, both the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and the Health Service Executive would like greater use to be made of community health services. In this regard, Deputies will be aware that the HSE is in the process of filling some 400 posts from the €35 million special allocation the Minister of State secured to increase staff on community mental health teams. When these additional health care professionals are in place, it will help the HSE provide more appropriate community based services for many of those who are currently in residential care. The main recommendation contained in the report, however, is that plans to progress the closure of St. Fintan's Hospital should proceed expeditiously.

Both the Health Service Executive and Minister of State acknowledge and accept the Mental Health Commission report and its findings. While noting the positive comments in the report, the HSE also notes the specific deficits identified, which it is actively addressing.

The HSE has developed plans for a purpose built, 40 bed unit to be located on the St. Fintan's Hospital campus as a replacement for the hospital. Funding of approximately €6 million for this important project has been secured from the HSE capital plan and the estimated timeframe for this work will be three years. While this unit is being progressed, the HSE is also considering and actively pursuing all options regarding interim solutions for the existing hospital and its current service users given the findings in the report. It will liaise with the Mental Health Commission to ensure relevant standards continue to be met as required.

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