Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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702. To ask the Minister for Health if he will grant an independent review of the decision to close the 22-bed mental health unit in Ballinasloe due to the impact it will have on the surrounding community who use the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3713/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Galway and Roscommon Mental Health Services, which operates as one administrative unit, has been resourced to implement A Vision for Change to modernize the service and give better outcomes for both patients and staff. However, existing resources need to be re-shaped, and the priority now is to achieve this at local level, in line with similar mental health service initiatives elsewhere.

Currently, there are 35 acute psychiatric beds in Galway city, and 22 acute psychiatric beds in both Ballinasloe and Roscommon. This gives a total of 79 beds, serving a population of some 315,000. A Vision for Change recommends 50 beds for a catchment population of 300,000. It is clear therefore, in line with policy and operational norms nationally, that the provision of 22 beds in both Ballinasloe and Roscommon means that the current overall stock of 79 in HSE West is too high in relative terms, allied to a corresponding under-development of community based mental health services.

In the context of the service improvements now underway, a purpose built 50 bed acute mental health unit will be completed in Galway University Hospital in 2015, to replace the existing smaller unit. This Unit will consist of 35 general adult mental health beds, with the remaining 15 beds relating to psychiatry of later life, eating disorders, and mental health and intellectual disability. The acute unit in Roscommon will continue to provide 22 general adult mental health beds.

The proposed re-organisation of services, following a detailed assessment by HSE West, will provide for a total of 57 general adult mental health beds. This will be a sufficient number of acute psychiatric beds in line with A Vision for Change , and will also allow the HSE to enhance community based services through re-deployment of some staff from acute services. Arising from an appropriate consultation process, staff from St. Brigid’s will be redeployed on a phased basis to both community mental health teams in Ballinasloe and to acute services in Galway and Roscommon. There will be no impact for current in-patients in Ballinasloe, and bed reduction will take place on a phased basis.

I am satisfied that the decision taken by the Executive, based on expert recommendations, to enhance future mental health provision in the area is the best option, taking account of overall service needs and competing resource priorities. The approach and objectives to bring about service change in this case is no different to that undertaken, or planned, elsewhere to implement a widely agreed policy on improving mental health services. Therefore, all concerned should work together to improve services into the future.

Bearing in mind all the circumstances relating to this much needed initiative, I do not agree with the need for a review as suggested by the Deputy.