Future care plan sought after closure of Ballinasloe psychiatric unit
Galway bay fm newsroom - The HSE is being urged to provide staff at St. Brigid's hospital in Ballinasloe and local GPs with a plan for people who present at Portiuncula Hospital with suicidal thoughts.
22 acute beds at St. Brigid's psychiatric unit will be closed by the end of the year.However, the HSE says 22 beds will be maintained in Roscommon and 35 beds in Galway city.Local Councillor Tim Broderick says there is concern about the lack of a service for acute care in Ballinasloe for people with mental health issues.A meeting between HSE management and unions was due to take place this week, but it was cancelled as the HSE says a key member of staff had to take unexpected leave.In a statement to Galway Bay fm News, the HSE says it welcomes the opportunity to work with staff representatives and a meeting with unions is being rescheduled.Speaking on 'Galway Talks', National Secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, Noel Giblin, says there is no plan to deal with patients, once the acute beds are closed