Galway councillor suggests new acute psychiatric unit planned for Roscommon would be better in Ballinasloe

A planned 40 bed inpatient acute psychiatric unit, which is due to replace the existing facility at Roscommon University Hospital would be more suitably located at Ballinasloe, a councillor suggested at the recent HSE West Regional Health Forum.

In a written question, Tuam based Galway County Councillor Donagh Killilea asked the HSE to explain the decision to build the unit on the Roscommon campus, “when there is only a minor injury unit that operates from 8-8” on site. He said this contradicts HSE policy “especially when there is a fully functioning 24 hour A&E department attached to Portiuncula University Hospital”. He said there are continuous staff retention issues with Roscommon services and they cannot recruit or retain staff of all disciplines. Ballinasloe, he added, is off the M6 and seems to be a more suitable location for shared services.

In response the HSE said the unit is a replacement for the long-standing Department of Psychiatry Acute Inpatient Service.

“There are currently no medical vacancies in the psychiatry service in Roscommon. Roscommon has continued to offer 24 hour, seven day a week, acute mental health assessments on site, and is co-located with an excellent working relationship with our general hospital colleagues, to the benefit of our patients and staff.” Speaking at the forum, Cllr Killilea said he felt it was important the matter was raised.

“I feel it is important that we invest in Roscommon and other hospitals,” he said. “There is no A&E and acute care unit based in County Roscommon. I am not saying there shouldn’t be, there should be,” he continued.

He said in cases where patients needed acute mental health intervention, if the unit is not beside a “fully functioning A&E” that is of concern.

“If someone presented at Portiuncula, they would have to get to the unit at Roscommon by taxi or ambulance, or by whatever means necessary,” he said.

He added that an emergency department assessment of someone presenting with a psychiatric illness cannot be done in RUH.

Integrated health area manager, Galway and Roscommon, Ann Cosgrove said acute mental health assessments are carried out at the Roscommon unit, and are available 24/7.