Seanad debates
Thursday, 7 November 2002
Report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals, 2001: Statements.
The inspector refers to the ongoing relocation from of old institutional mental hospitals to acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals. Since the publication of Planning for the Future in 1984, 18 new acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals have opened. During 2001, further new acute psychiatric units were completed or nearing completion at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar and at Portlaoise General Hospital. It is expected that each of these units will become available to the respective mental health services shortly. Construction of new acute psychiatric units is also well advanced at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, and at St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park. At the time of inspection in 2001, the few remaining patients at Our Lady's Psychiatric Hospital in Cork were due to transfer to a newly refurbished unit at the former St. Anne's Unit in Shanakiel in Cork city, facilitating the final closure of Our Lady's, and I am pleased to report that this process has now been completed.
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