CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRISTS have demanded an inquiry into the lack of investment in an acute mental health unit, accusing the Health Service Executive (HSE) of mounting a “conspiracy” to shut the facility.
Staff at St Michael’s acute psychiatric unit in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, have embarked on a fundraising drive to pay for improvements at the 49-bed establishment in an effort to ward off its closure.
They are seeking an urgent meeting with the Government to discuss their fear that the HSE is about to make a final announcement about moving patients in the unit to Kilkenny or to the wider community and shutting St Michael’s for good.
The HSE said last year that it would close the unit, which is on the grounds of South Tipperary hospital. It said last January that redevelopment would “not be value for money” as there is an existing 44-bed unit in Kilkenny. It denied last night, however, that a closure is planned for the end of this month.
Consultants at St Michael’s and South Tipperary General Hospital insisted this week that refurbishment of the unit and development of a garden for patients – as recommended by the Mental Health Commission – could be done for about €100,000.
Next Tuesday is the deadline for meeting the commission’s stipulations for re-registration of the unit and staff have had plans drawn up to allow those conditions be met – paid for by fundraising.
“As consultants, we started making recommendations in 2006 and writing to management with a list of things that needed to be put in place,” consultant psychiatrist Dr Alan Moore said.
“We’re over 100 per cent full and, even with the community services that we’re all fighting for and support, we don’t believe there would be enough beds in Kilkenny. There would always be a need for beds [in Clonmel].”
Moving patients and their families to Kilkenny city would be doing the community “a great disservice”, according to consultant physician at South Tipperary General Hospital Dr Paud O’Regan.
“This is a low-tech speciality which doesn’t need high-end equipment. There’s no argument for closure in terms of savings or cost. The geographical distance would leave patients and their families up to 60 miles away from the services they need,” he said.
“There’s a conspiracy to close the unit by inaction.”
The consultants, along with the local Save Our Hospital committee, have written to Minister of State for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch, demanding a meeting to discuss the future of St Michael’s. So far, they say, the Minister has “declined” to meet the committee, “despite a formal written request”.
They are also asking the HSE to explain why an outside facilitator for mental health services in the area – as recommended last year by an independent report by psychiatrist Dr John Hillery – has not been appointed.
The HSE said last night it will not be closing St Michael’s next Tuesday and said it “continues to work closely” with the Mental Health Commission on issues identified by inspectors.