New 20-bed inpatient psychiatric unit for Cork

A NEW 20-bed inpatient unit for children and adolescents with psychiatric difficulties in the southern region is expected to be completed later this year, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed following the commencement of construction work on the project.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children John Moloney officially marked the progress to date on the project when he recently turned the sod at the construction site – which is on the grounds of the Sacred Heart Convent at Bessboro in Blackrock in Cork city.

HSE South’s local health manager, Dave Drohan, paid tribute to the community of Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary for providing a site for the service which will cater for children and adolescents from Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary and Wexford.

The unit will provide specialist inpatient mental health services in terms of assessment, care and treatment for children and adolescents up to the age of 18 years, who present with severe emotional and behavioural disorders where there is a likelihood of mental illness, he explained.

Mr Drohan said the new unit was expected to be completed in late 2009 but in the interim, an eight-bed unit was being opened in the grounds of St Stephen’s Hospital in Glanmire with the HSE South investing more than €9.14 million in both units to deliver the regional inpatient service.

“These new units, which are being developed in line with the former Southern Health Board’s ‘Development Plan for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – Mol an Óige’ and the national policy for mental health, A Vision for Change,” said Mr Drohan.

“The opening of the interim eight-bed unit at St Stephen’s is an important development in our child and adolescent mental health services.

“It will ensure young people with mental health issues who are referred to our services for treatment are given the appropriate care in the appropriate setting.

“We will see the service expand to a 20-bed inpatient unit when the new facility in Bessboro is complete, ensuring young people in the region continue to have access to appropriate services in years to come,” he said.

St Stephen’s comprises three double en-suite rooms, two single en-suite rooms as well as a large day room, group room and occupational therapy suite while it also includes a centrally located nurse’s office.

The facility also includes a kitchen, dining room, living room and a visitors’ area as well as administrative offices located on the first floor.

The unit also offers access to green areas at the front and an enclosed sensory garden to the rear.

“The service will be provided by a multidisciplinary team, led by a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist who has already commenced work and recruitment of specialist staff and induction is ongoing,” according to Mr Drohan, who added that the unit would be in a position to accept referrals in the near future.