Officials to reveal why Downe is to lose mental health services

Officials to reveal why Downe is to lose mental health services

27 February 2013

SENIOR health officials are to brief local politicians on plans to create a new £26m in-patient psychiatric unit to serve the entire South Eastern Trust area.

Downpatrick will be stripped of inpatient mental health services under plans to create a new 72-bed centre of excellence beside the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

Health chiefs, who took part in a public discussion on the proposal at a meeting in Downpatrick last night, are insisting that the creation of the new unit in Dundonald will not end mental health service provision in the town.

Clinicians believe Dundonald is the “most appropriate location,” given there is a nearby acute hospital with emergency department and other clinical services.

Newcastle councillor Patrick Clarke, who had a meeting with Trust officials on the issue last Thursday, encouraged them to meet with Down councillors to outline their proposals for the new centre of excellence.

Councillor Clarke said he voiced “serious concern” that the proposed new centre was not being built in Downpatrick to serve the mental health needs of the immediate district and wider community, given the presence of the Downe and Downshire hospitals.

“I also expressed opposition to the removal of any jobs or downgrading of frontline health care services from Downpatrick. I was assured this would not be happening,” he said.

“It is quite clear that the Trust’s preferred option is to provide the new inpatient unit at the Ulster Hospital site, which will enhance the range and quality of services and better meet the individual needs of people with a mental illness.”

Councillor Clarke said the current 25-bed acute inpatient unit for psychiatric patients at the Downe Hospital will be retained by the Trust to cater for “low secure patients.”

He continued: “While I cautiously welcome the investment and provision of a new £26m mental health inpatient unit, I am against any attempts by the Trust to downgrade mental health services in the Down District area.

“I would much prefer to see such the new ‘centre of excellence’ built in Downpatrick which serves a large geographical rural area and population.”

However, councillor Clarke said because the Downe is not a major acute hospital and does not have a neurology department or MRI scanner, the new psychiatric will not be built locally.