Costello Welcomes the Reopening of Grangegorman Women's Unit

4 January 2012

by Cllr Joe Costello

The decision to reopen the "open" Unit 3B for female patients in St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman, today, 4th January, is most welcome as the original proposal was to keep the Unit closed until 16th January. The Unit had been closed since the 12th December 2011.

The Unit should not have been closed in the first place and patients in the "Open" Unit should not have been kept in a closed secure unit over the Christmas period together with patients requiring intensive care and security. Such a mix of patients is contrary to best medical practice and is unacceptable. It is imperative that all steps are taken to ensure that a similar situation does not arise again.

A new state-of-the-art mental health facility is being constructed on the grounds of St. Brendan's, Grangegorman, at present, and proper planning must ensure that it is completed, equipped, and staffed and that the present cohort of patients in St. Brendan's are transferred there before a crisis arises again next Christmas.