Patients fear closure of mental health centre

PATIENTS attending a mental health facility in Ballymun say they fear it is facing closure after a HSE review.

According to one of the patients, who is a regular client of the Tus Nua day centre in Ballymun Shopping Centre, there are plans to close it and merge it with another group on the Northside.

Jenny O’Farrell, from Ballymun, has been attending the day centre for over two years.

“It has been of great benefit to me over the years,

? she said.

“And it is brilliant for the other 43 adults who have mental health issues who go there.

“The day centre has been here for over 20 years and it is the only one in Ballymun that has a full time nurse available.

“I understand there has been a report done by the HSE but no one is telling us what is happening, the only thing we are sure of is that there is a very high chance of closure.

?

Ms O’Farrell said she and other patients at the facility were only recently made aware that the HSE intends to close the centre. She was told that there were plans to merge the Ballymun group with another further afield.

“We don’t have an objection to the centre being closed eventually as there are doubts over the future of the shopping centre. But more importantly, we don’t, as a group, want to move elsewhere.

“Many of those who come here like the fact that they can just walk down the road to it. They wouldn’t get on a bus or travel anywhere else.

?

The centre treats people with depression and anxiety through activities such as Arts & Crafts, computer classes and teaching relaxation techniques.

Ms O’Farrell said it was reassuring to her to know that there was always someone there she could talk to.

“As soon as you were referred there and were considered eligible you could walk in and talk to someone,

? she said.

“I suffer from panic attacks and was unable to leave the house but now I can.

“We are devastated,

? she added.

“The staff are absolutely wonderful and have been so helpful.

“We would be lost without the centre.

?

According to a HSE statement, Dublin North City Mental Health Service Plan 2013 identified that there was a need to review all day centres within the area.

“A review group was established by the DNCity Mental Health Management Team and they were given the remit to identify all mental health day centres in Dublin North City, General Adult Psychiatry; review services provided within each day centre and make recommendations if required to ensure that each day centre was fulfilling its brief and examine if clients’ needs could be met in a more appropriate environment,

? the statement reads.

“The Review Group completed its work in April 2014 and submitted its Report to the DNCity Mental Health Management Team.

“The Report was discussed by the management team at its meeting on May 22 and the report, including its recommendation to close Tus Nua, was adopted.

“The Review Group found that Tus Nua situated on the upper floor of Ballymun Shopping Centre was old and in poor condition with only one fire exit from the building.

“There is no lift access and the shutters on the front window cannot be opened due to security concerns. It should be further added that the lease on these premises has expired and due to the Regeneration Plan for Ballymun it cannot be renewed.

“Also the decamping of the Ballymun Shopping Centre to allow the Regeneration Plan to proceed has left this service in a vulnerable position and management cannot safely recommend the service continue.

?

The statement adds:

“An Implementation Group under the Chairmanship of Dr Guy Molyneax, Clinical Director will be established and an independent assessment of the needs of the attendees will be carried out.

“This assessment of needs will inform the process going forward and will ensure that the needs of service users continue to be met.

“The Implementation Group will as part of its remit communicate with all the relevant stakeholders during this period of change.

“It is not the intention of the DNCity Management Team to close this facility until the process is complete and appropriate alternative placements have been sourced.

?