A local councillor has called for a "special unit" to be set up in Cavan General Hospital for mental health issues, suicide and anything pertaining mental health. The calls were made by Cllr Brendan Fay who believes sending those who are most vulnerable to A&E is "inappropriate and wrong on almost every scale."
He is also calling on the HSE and Minister for Heath, Stephen Donnelly to not only set up a specialised unit at Cavan General Hospital, but to roll plans out nationwide.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Cllr Brendan Fay said it was important for him to bring this matter to the forefront, particulary through his work on-the-ground with SOSAD. He added that problems with accessing local GP services, has gave those suffering with mental health "no other option" but to turn to Emergency Departments for help.
As result, people in vulnerable states are being left waiting "hours-on-end," something which Cllr Fay described as "simply not good enough." He continue; "Hospital staff are trying their best, but units are under-staffed and health workers are facing immense pressures. Those who are vulnerable are making that very difficult to decision ask for help, but when they get to an Emergency Department, they are either turned away, left sitting or else they're being offered a quick fix in the form of prescription tablets and being sent out into the world again, untreated, which only adds to any existing problems. People should not be turned away or ignored in their hour of need.
"We don't want a doctor that is a bone specialist seeing someone who is suicidal. It's not working. We're sending these people back out into the world again untreated, we wouldn't do it to someone with a broken leg, or someone who had a stroke or a heart-attack, so why are we doing it to the people of Ireland with mental health issues."
