Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I also take the opportunity to welcome some friends from America to the Visitors Gallery. I hope they have had a good trip to Ireland.

The acute psychiatric in-patient services for area 6 of the Eastern Regional Health Authority are currently being delivered from unit 9 at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, which has 22 beds. In his report for the year ended 31 December 2001 the inspector of mental hospitals noted that the unit was unsuited for its purpose and that its shortcomings had resulted in unsatisfactory conditions for service users and considerable difficulties for staff. The inspector also noted that the unit was structurally and decoratively poor with a temporary add-on structure providing bathroom facilities for female patients. The unit will be replaced by a new psychiatric unit in the new development currently nearing completion. Patients will be relocated to the new unit which will provide improved patient facilities and services. The new unit will be a 56 bed unit comprising 44 acute psychiatric beds, six high observation beds and six psychiatry of old age beds. Patients from a 22 bed unit at St. Brendan's Hospital will also be moving to the new unit.

Discussions are ongoing with unions representing psychiatric nurses moving to the new psychiatric unit at James Connolly Memorial Hospital. The discussions are currently concentrating on a number of issues of concern in relation to the physical layout of the new acute psychiatric unit. Proposals aimed at addressing these concerns were presented to staff unions at a recent meeting with the Northern Area Health Board. Draft operational procedures and protocols were also presented, including admission, discharge and security policies. The unions requested some time to consider the proposals and advised that they would report back by 4 June 2003.

The new acute psychiatric unit will provide bright and spacious accommodation for patients as part of the integrated services available at James Connolly Memorial Hospital. In the interests of patient care, I hope all interested parties will co-operate to progress its opening.