The HSE has defended the spending of over 300 thousand euro on security for one patient at Ennis general hospital saying that the cost in no way impacts on other mental health services in the county.
In a statement the Health Service Executive denies there is any dispute between Ennis General and the Central Mental Hospital, where the man was due to be transferred following a district court application.
The health authority does admit however that Ennis General is not the most suitable place for the patient to be kept but that it is the best care available given the circumstances.
The man – who’s suffering from mental illness was refered to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin but the HSE says he wasn’t refused entry but that the consultants had formed the view he would receive the appropriate care he needed there.
It was revealed yesterday that The HSE has paid out more than 330 thousand euro or over 900 euro a day for security guards to watch him during his stay in Ennis.
Des Kavanagh of the Psychiatric Nurses Association says it’s because there’s no
High-security unit in the west of Ireland
In a statement the HSE insists the care being provided for the man at Ennis general is the best possible solution as he requires management and not treatment.
The statement also reveals that case has been reviewed on numerous occasions by independent Mental Health Tribunals which have declared themselves satisfied that while the acute psychiatric unit at Ennis may not be the ideal setting it is the best one possible at present given the circumstances of the case.
Local HSE Health Manager, Bernard Gloster, has also denied that the costs incurred impacts in any way on services for other mentally ill persons in County Clare and that the case is unique.
