Madam, – The use of the Mental Health Commission’s statutory powers to order the closures of St Brendan’s, St Ita’s and St Senan’s hospitals is to be welcomed and brings to a close the inhumane conditions that prevail in these hospitals (Home News, June 17th). But are we throwing out the baby with the bathwater?
Current mental health policy dictates that any new acute admission units are co-located within the general hospital campus. Is the cramped, busy general hospital environment the best place for a patient to recover?
The three psychiatric hospitals ordered to close are magnificent Victorian structures on their own extensive tranquil grounds, far removed from the flashing blue- light bustle of the local general hospital. Why not refurbish or rebuild on-site? Is a busy accident and emergency department. not the worst place imaginable for an agitated and disturbed psychiatric patient to receive treatment while awaiting admission?
Is a small cramped admission unit with little or no access to outside space the best place to recover one’s mental health? Can we not reinvent the asylum and transform it into a place of vibrancy, dignity and recovery? – Yours, etc,