Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this important matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I thank the Deputy for raising it.

The HSE is proceeding to modernise and reform mental health services across HSE West, including the Galway and Roscommon areas. A key factor in this reform was the recognition that the previous overall stock of 79 psychiatric beds across Galway and Roscommon was too high, based on the recommendations in A Vision for Change, allied with a corresponding underdevelopment of community-based mental health services. In this context, an implementation plan to reconfigure mental health services across the Galway and Roscommon administrative area was put in place, culminating in the closure of the psychiatric ward in St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, and the transfer of beds from Ballinasloe on a phased basis to the existing acute psychiatric unit in University Hospital Galway. Since February, a bed capacity level of 45 psychiatric beds has been operational in University Hospital Galway. I have been informed by the HSE that at no time since February has this bed occupancy level been exceeded. The latest information from it is that there were ten vacant beds in the unit this morning. Therefore, there is no pressure on physical bed occupancy in University Hospital Galway.

With the increase in bed capacity, the local HSE has also improved clinical governance, putting in place two assistant directors of nursing and two additional senior nurse managers. This is in addition to a range of new staff and services, including the redeployment of nurses from Ballinasloe. The HSE points out that the clinical director, together with the nurse managers, conduct daily assessments of staffing requirements to ensure a safe service at all times. Representatives of the Mental Health Commission also regularly visit the service. Staff in the acute unit at University Hospital Galway are confident that they can meet the needs of current inpatients and the needs of those referred for assessments.

The HSE acknowledges the tragic death of a service user recently. This has been reported to the Mental Health Commission and internally in line with HSE protocols. An internal review is under way.

My Department and the HSE are committed to quality in mental health services and patient safety and will continue to strive to ensure patients receive the best care possible when they need to access health and social care services. Improving the safety and quality of that care, be it mental health, acute care, services for older people and other areas, should be and will be our highest priority.

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