THE TEMPORARY upheaval of a number of vulnerable
patients at a Northside psychiatric hospital has been slammed as
“another
example of the disproportionate suffering that people with mental health have
to endure
?.
Twelve female patients of St Brendan’s Hospital in
Grangegorman were uprooted and relocated in the run up to Christmas because of
staff shortages at the facility.
Five patients were moved to what’s been described as a
“lock up
? unit, while seven others were transferred to a mixture of other units
and community hostels.
The Health Service Executive amalgamated two wards and
closed another on December 12, a situation which will continue until January
16.
However, according to the Mental Health Reform campaign
group, there are fears that the arrangement will continue indefinitely as up to
500 mental health nursing staff are due to retire in February.
Particular concern has been raised for the welfare of
the five patients who have been separated from their fellow open unit residents
to move to the locked ward.
The ward, which is classified as a low security unit,
is a dormitory style facility with a capacity for 12 patients, with two toilet
cubicles and two showers.
Dublin Central TD Joe Costello (Lab) called on the HSE
not to resort to such
“unprecedented disturbance and bad practice
?.
“The mix of high-risk and low-risk patients is contrary
to all medical practice and could indeed prove dangerous for staff and
patients,
? he stated.
“The HSE should find a way to maintain best medical
practice either through overtime or by providing additional temporary staff.
“If the HSE is not prepared to find a best practice
solution then I believe the Minister should intervene to ensure that the open
unit is not closed.
?
Natalie Buhl, campaign officer of Mental Health Reform,
the national umbrella organisation campaigning on mental health issues, said
the ward closure highlights the detrimental effect that the staffing moratorium
is having on services.
“The ward closure in St Brendan’s is a sign of the
seriousness the impact of the staff moratorium is having on the mental health
services,
? she told Northside People.
“We were concerned that the patients who were moved to
the low security unit would suffer a loss of liberty.
“I think it’s unacceptable in this day and age that
patients should be relocated in such a manner because of a lack of staff.
“I think mental health has always been
disproportionately affected by cuts and it’s not necessarily the Government’s
intention.
?
Meanwhile, Orla Barry, director of the Mental Health
Reform, reacted with cynicism to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Brendan Howlin’s recent announcement that $35 million has been approved for the
development of community mental health services.
“What is happening in St Brendan’s shows the need for
national planning in mental health,
? she stated.
“It is a sign that a Director for Mental Health with
control of the full mental health budget must be appointed as a matter of
urgency to ensure that the
?¬35 million actually goes where it’s supposed to go.
“It seems that this is a case of taking from Peter to
give to Paul and that cannot be the solution to the serious problems that are
facing our mental health services at this time.
?
A spokesperson for the HSE confirmed to Northside
People that due to a shortage of nursing staff in Dublin North West Mental
Health Service, Unit O and Unit 3B at St Brendan’s Hospital amalgamated over
the Christmas period from December 12 to January 16.
“This will involve the interim closure of Unit 3B for
that period,
? she stated.
“Five women from Unit 3B will transfer across to Unit
O, the low secure unit. Of the seven remaining patients in 3B, four will
transfer to community hostels and three to beds in other units.
“These measures are necessary to ensure continuity of
services and to ensure safe staff complements to care for all residents and
patients over this period.
?
The HSE spokesperson stated that the units would revert
to the prior operational arrangements in mid-January.