Sod turned on Beaumont psychiatric facility

THE new Adult Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Facility to
be built on the Beaumont Hospital campus moved a step closer last week when
Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, turned the sod on the facility.

The new unit is being developed by the HSE in
co-operation with Beaumont Hospital and on completion will be managed by HSE
North Dublin Mental Health Services.

It will include inpatient accommodation to replace
services historically provided in St Ita’s Hospital, Portrane and will serve a
population of approximately 250,000 people in the North Dublin area.

The new facility will comprise 44 beds, all single
room accommodation, 38 for General Acute Psychiatry and six for Old Age
Psychiatry.

The unit will have four zoned areas – general adult,
high observation, psychiatry of old age and a day activity area.

There will also be five internal gardens, as well as a
courtyard, all of which have been designed to enable patients to avail of
different activities and spaces.

The total cost, including enabling and ancillary
works, will be e13 million and construction is scheduled for completion by the
second quarter of 2013.

Funding for the unit has been provided under the HSE’s
Capital Plan for the development of psychiatric services nationally.

The unit will be a significant development in the
provision of Acute In-patient Mental Health Services for the clients of North
Dublin.

The purpose built accommodation will meet the
long-term needs of this client group.

It will be built to the highest possible standards and
will meet both Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) and Mental Health
Commission requirements.

The new unit will provide consultant led,
multidisciplinary acute in-patient mental health care in an open setting for
adults and the elderly. It will enhance the development of specialist
psychiatric outpatient care by linking it to the outpatient facilities which
are already available for other specialties within Beaumont.

The building of this new unit is in line with national
mental health policy ‘A Vision for Change’ and particularly the recommendation
that acute mental health treatment should be provided on the site of a general
hospital where patients can avail of a wide range of services and treatments.

The unit will provide academic training and continuing
professional education for medical, nursing and allied health care
professionals.

When completed, this purpose built facility will be an
important component in the delivery of a comprehensive and modern mental health
service for the population of North Dublin in line with best international
practice.

The HSE acknowledges the ongoing patience of service
users, their carers and families, and the flexibility of staff during the
necessary moves preceding the opening of the unit in 2013.