The Psychiatric Nurses’ Association has expressed their concern that the cost of managing the care of one patient at Ennis General Hospital is impacting on services for the mentally ill in the county.
It’s been confirmed that the HSE are spending nearly a thousand euro a day on 24 hour security for the man at the acute psychiatric unit at Ennis General as there’s no place for him at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin.
The PNA says the facility where the man is currently being cared for is inappropriate to his needs.
The 35 year old Ennis man, who is suffering from a mental disorder, has been at the acute psychiatric unit at Ennis General since July of 2008 after Judge Joseph Mangan, in the District Court was not successful in having him admitted to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin.
The HSE has so far, paid out 334 thousand, 494 euro in security costs for the patient, who was before the court on theft charges.
General Secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, Des Kavanagh says the man in question presented a serious risk to the safety of himself, of staff and of other patients at Ennis General Hospital and he should be cared for in a secure unit.
The association is concerned that the money being allocated for the man’s security is being taken from the budget for mental health services in Clare
