Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is an area with which the Acting Chairman, Deputy Durkan, is very familiar as it is in his constituency. I thank the Minister of State for being here for the debate. The Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, visited Naas General Hospital recently. I know this through social media and newspapers. It is regrettable that other Deputies in the constituency were not invited, because it has always been a matter of respect and courtesy that all Oireachtas Members in a constituency are invited to meet a Minister to air the issues they have. This is not only with regard to this case, but I am speaking about Naas and it is regrettable it did not happen, particularly because I have raised the issue of Lakeview previously in the House with the Minister.

Having said that, and to get to the topic in question, Lakeview is a 29 bed unit in Naas General Hospital. The staff do an incredible job with people who have acute mental health issues. Not a day goes by in the House that some Member does not speak about the importance of mental health. I know the Minister of State is very conscious of it.

This is a crisis situation in Naas. I have spoken to the HSE and it acknowledges and recognises this is the top priority in the country for funding. To have a 29-bed unit in archaic conditions, and mixed wards which certainly do not help anybody in a crisis situation with their mental health, is appalling in this day and age. Many patients cannot be catered for there and must go to the ten bed unit in Portlaoise, which is putting pressure on that unit. There is a huge need for an investment of €5.5 million to be spent on Lakeview to modernise it, to have a positive environment for people suffering from acute mental health issues and to help restore confidence in the system. There is huge burnout among the staff because it is dark and dreary and no investment has been put into it for more than 100 years.

While community mental health support is vital, as are any actions we can take to place an emphasis on positive mental health, when people present with conditions they need to be in a safe and secure unit and it is imperative they are in the proper place and receive the proper care. The investment in mental health in Kildare is the lowest in the country. We have one of the highest rates of suicide in the country. Over the past ten years, there has been an average of 23 suicides in County Kildare, and most of them were in my town of Newbridge. Over the past two months we have had five suicides. We need a situation whereby people can present in an accident and emergency type unit for mental health issues. At present, people present in the accident and emergency department in Naas General Hospital, which is across from the corridor from Lakeview. We need to put in place emergency measures and have a positive environment for those suffering from acute mental health issues.

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