Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. As some Members will be aware, the Mental Health Commission has made the decision to put a restriction on the registration of the mental health care and recovery approved centre in Bantry General Hospital, given its concerns over the size of residents' bedrooms in the centre. I will touch on Bantry General Hospital. I visited it three or four months ago. It is the most fantastic facility. It is the most remote level 2 hospital in the whole country, serving a huge area of west Cork. I know west Cork very well; my father came from Drimoleague. I am very familiar with the area. On the day I visited the hospital, I was very impressed with the fact that it was an old-style hospital doing everything, including looking after older people and those with mental health issues across the whole sector. It is a very important facility in west Cork. I acknowledge the support that all Oireachtas Members have given to that facility over many years.

I have been aware since August that the Mental Health Commission was in consultation with the HSE regarding this particular situation. As the Senator said, this decision would mean the centre's total number of registered beds would reduce from 18 to 11. That is a massive reduction in bed capacity. The centre, which is located on the grounds of Bantry General Hospital, provides residents with acute care - it is important to note that it is acute care - rehabilitation and recovery supports for their mental health difficulties. It serves the local west Cork area, including areas around Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Bantry and beyond.

The HSE advised me last Friday afternoon of its intention to appeal the Mental Health Commission decision to put a restriction on the registration of the mental health care and recovery approved centre in Bantry General Hospital. As this is now a matter before the District Court, it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister of State, to discuss the specifics of this particular case, but I can speak to the issue more generally. I will continue to liaise with the HSE to ensure all decisions and actions taken in respect of the centre are made with the best interests of the residents in mind, both from a health and safety viewpoint and in the context of the provision of appropriate treatments.

Mental health remains a key priority for me and the Government, and we are fully committed to the delivery of high-quality, person-centred, recovery-oriented mental health services. Our long-term strategic aim for our mental health services is to provide a consistent, high-quality service for anyone in need of support for their mental health. It is our responsibility to ensure the provision of high-quality mental health services that are fit for purpose. The Government acknowledges that mental health services must constantly evolve and develop to ensure they are in line with international best practice and regulatory requirements.

The national community mental health operation office is working closely with community healthcare organisation, CHO, 4 regarding compliance issues, most of which, I must emphasise, are premises related. The issues relate not to care but to the premises. CHO 4 has a comprehensive capital plan to accelerate the development of new inpatient units, and the national office is working with it to secure funding in this respect.

My understanding is that the only avenue for the HSE was to appeal the Mental Health Commission's decision to the District Court. The HSE maintains that it cannot afford to reduce the number of beds and notes that, in the context of regulation 22, there are no specifics with regard to the size of bedrooms. The HSE believes the imposition of the condition could have broader implications for many other approved centres in that particular CHO area and within CHO areas nationally.

That is the current situation. At present, there is capacity for 18 residents in the centre. As I have said, many of the patients have acute and enduring mental illnesses. The centre is their home from home. Therefore, it is very important that we, and I, as Minister of State, make sure that there is capacity in specific areas for mental illness.