Closure of female unit in St. Brendan's Hospital Grangegorman unacceptable - Costello

9 December 2011

by Cllr Joe Costello

The decision by the HSE to amalgamate the Female Open Unit in St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman with the Female High Security Unit is unacceptable.

There are thirteen women in the open unit and nine in the high security unit at present. Serious health and safety issues will arise for patients and staff alike as the open unit will be closed down and only the closed high security unit will remain to cater for all female patients.

The proposed closure is for a period of 4 weeks from this Sunday the 11th of December to the middle of January. A shortage of staff over the Christmas period is the reason given for the closure. However, with further staff retirements expected by the end of February 2012 there is concern that the staffing shortage will continue and that the "Open" unit will remain closed.

Staff have contacted management, their union and the Labour Court about the unacceptable situation being presented to them as workers and carers. They will refuse to co-operate in the transfer of the patients from the open to the closed unit.
If the staffing shortage is seasonal and only for four weeks then the HSE should not resort to such unprecedented disturbance and bad practice as they are proposing.

The mix of high risk and low risk patients is contrary to all medical practice and could, indeed, prove dangerous for staff and patients. The HSE should find a way to maintain best medical practice either through overtime or by providing additional temporary staff. If the HSE are not prepared to find a best practice solution then I believe the Minister should intervene to ensure that the "Open" unit is not closed.