New mental health centre in Grangegorman

A NEW

?¬21 million mental health facility has been completed in the Grangegorman campus.

The new facility, which replaces St Brendan’s Hospital, was recently handed over to the HSE.

The new 54-bed purpose built mental health facility, named the ‘Phoenix Care Centre’ includes a psychiatric intensive care service.

The state-of-the art centre will provide patients with their own bedrooms with en-suite facilities, therapy and rehabilitation spaces enhanced with courtyard settings and a light filled environment.

Completion of this building marks a significant milestone, as it’s the first major building project to be completed as part of the overall Grangegorman re-development project.

Anne O’Connor, area manager with HSE in Dublin North City, said she was delighted to accept the landmark building on behalf of the HSE.

“This uniquely designed mental health facility will provide a safe, secure and therapeutic environment for patients to receive the care they require in a modern environment,

? she added.

“The completion of this facility will enable the HSE to improve access for patients to very high quality facilities and services.

?

Michael Hand of the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) said he was pleased with the high quality of design and construction of Phoenix Care Centre.

“I would like to pay tribute to the close collaboration between the HSE and GDA teams together with our design team and contractors,

? he stated.

“This building sets the standard for the entire Grangegorman development which will be rolled out over the coming years.

?

The HSE recently lodged the three-month statutory notice of the closure of St Brendan’s Hospital, Grangegorman with the Mental Health Commission. It is expected that the move of both the staff and patients of St Brendan’s to the new facility will commence towards the end of the first quarter of this year.

The closure of St Brendan’s will end 199 years of its continuous provision of care and treatment to those with mental illness.

The hospital was the first public psychiatric hospital in Ireland and over the last 30 years its move from asylum care to a targeted rehabilitation and recovery programme has led to fewer patients needing the care of the hospital.

Currently, St Brendan’s provides intensive care for those suffering from serious mental illness who cannot be managed in general hospital units both in the greater Dublin area and the North East and provides intensive support to patients prior to return to their local units as their illness improves.

A small number of patients who continue to need active rehabilitation will receive their treatment in the new Phoenix Care Centre.