Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for this opportunity to raise this important matter. I welcome the positive news that this issue, as it applies to the Galway acute psychiatric unit, is to be referred to the LRC. However, I stand by my request this morning for an independent review of the staffing and operation of mental health services across Counties Galway and Roscommon.

Last year, when I made the point in this House that the Galway unit was an accident waiting to happen because of inadequate staffing and resources, I was accused of scaremongering. As in the case of the Galway unit, staffing and resources at the acute psychiatric unit at Roscommon County Hospital in respect of specials are inadequate. Specials are sick patients who are a danger to themselves and other people in the unit, be they staff or patients. This continues to be the case at both of the units in Galway and Roscommon. All of these issues need to be examined.

To compound those particular problems, the acute psychiatric unit at St. Luke's in Ballinasloe has been closed, adding to the pressures already on the units in Galway and Roscommon.

It is clear there is an issue in relation to resourcing. What makes it even more bizarre is that last year, the mental health services in Roscommon and Galway handed back €6 million and this year their budget has been cut by a further €3.5 million.

In the Ballinasloe catchment area, within the past three weeks, 14 patients have been referred to the acute unit in Roscommon, putting considerable pressure on the acute unit in Roscommon. On top of that, we are coming into the summer months where there is further demand on mental health services in Galway because of the dramatic increase in population in the Galway area during the summer. As an interim measure, I would urge the Minister to re-open the acute unit at St. Luke's in Ballinasloe to take pressure off both Galway and Roscommon acute psychiatric units.

It is not only the acute units that are causing problems. There is a very serious issue regarding staffing at the high support unit at Knockroe in Castlerea. Serious allegations of misconduct in relation to a male patient have been raised there and it has been claimed that matter has not been properly investigated by the mental health services or properly reported to the Garda. I want an assurance from the Minister that this issue will be independently investigated and that an independent report will be produced.

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