Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is a perfectly acceptable reason.

Last weekend, a letter from the Mental Health Commission to the Health Service Executive, HSE, came into my possession. It was quite shocking as we learned for the first time that it was the intention of the Mental Health Commission to de-register the psychiatric unit in University Hospital Waterford and completely close it down. It is the psychiatric acute unit for the counties of Wexford and Waterford. The new determination of the Mental Health Commission was to reduce the number of acute beds from 14 to six.

I will give some brief background. In 2010, following the closure of St. Senan's Hospital in Enniscorthy in accordance with A Vision for Change, the acute psychiatric services for County Wexford, except for its very north, were added to the acute psychiatric service for Waterford and provided in Waterford. The 14-bed unit had caused deep concerns over recent years as being inadequate.

The letter from the Mental Health Commission states that serious concerns remain as to the safety, health and well-being of residents in the approved centre and that it is quite clear that the current unit is not fit for purpose. While this may well be the case, the notion that there would be only six acute beds available for the counties of Waterford and Wexford is wholly unacceptable. In a letter received by me and, I presume, other Deputies yesterday, the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, to whom I wish a speedy recovery, indicated that an appeal would be lodged. However, the appeal must be determined by next Friday. If not, the unit will be reduced to six beds as and from next Wednesday. It is unacceptable.

Will the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, indicate in very clear terms what provision will be made for acute patients beyond next Wednesday, assuming the ruling of the Mental Health Commission stands? The letter I received yesterday aggregated acute and sub-acute beds and referred to 36 beds. I am focusing exclusively on acute beds, which are to be reduced from 14 to six, which is wholly unacceptable and will cause consternation among all the population of Wexford and Waterford.

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