Written answers
Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Department of Health
Mental Health Services
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1007. To ask the Minister for Health if an analysis has been carried out on the further cost of carrying out upgrade works on the former St. Michael's unit at South Tipperary General Hospital to bring it up to sufficient standard for the provision of acute psychiatric beds; the difference in standard required between standard acute beds and acute psychiatric beds; the estimated cost of returning the unit to a psychiatric unit in a post Covid-19 environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18653/20]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1008. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of acute mental health beds in County Tipperary; his views on same; his plans to provide such beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18654/20]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that I met with local Oireachtas representatives in Clonmel on 13 July to discuss various issues relating to mental health in Tipperary, including existing arrangements and future options around acute mental health care for the South East region.
Since the closure of the old St. Michael's Psychiatric Unit in Clonmel in 2012, on foot of Court proceedings, mental health patients from North Tipperary are generally referred to the acute unit in Ennis, while those from South Tipperary attend St. Luke's in Kilkenny. The position in relation to bed occupancy rates at St. Luke's was outlined by a HSE representative at the meeting. He also confirmed that the St. Michael’s Unit now forms part of South Tipperary General Hospital.
The recently published Sharing the Vision recommends an examination of capacity across the mental health sector. It also recommends that alternatives to acute inpatient care, such as home care teams assertive outreach teams and day hospitals, be considered.
In the short-term, however, my priority is to progress other local mental health initiatives for Tipperary such as the new Jigsaw service and the new replacement Respite House in Clonmel.
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