A new greenfield 50-bed Adult Acute Mental Health Unit in Waterford has been included in the government's Capital Plan for 2021.
The Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler confirmed the news, stating that a detailed design of the unit is expected by the end of the year.
The Department of Psychiatry at University Hospital Waterford currently serves the Waterford and Wexford area after the two counties' psychiatric services merged in 2012.
The merger has led to issues around capacity, with a damning 2019 report by the Mental Health Commission criticising the unit for a “low level” of compliance with regulations.
In 2019, the unit was ranked in the bottom 5 in the country with a compliance rate of 57% however the inspection for 2020 showed the unit is now at an overall compliance rating of 86% – an improvement of 29%.
Deputy Butler hopes this unit will deal with issues the current Department has faced. “I visited the Department of Psychiatry at UHW earlier this year and was encouraged to see the significant changes and improvements made since the previous Mental Health Commission report.
“At a subsequent meeting of Oireachtas members from Waterford with Hospital management, it was announced that a pre-tender cost report for a new greenfield Acute Mental Health Unit was being undertaken with a detailed design expected by year end 2021.
"Arising from that meeting it was clear that capital funding would have to be secured to make the project a reality. As Minister with responsibility for Mental Health, I worked closely with Minister Donnelly and Department officials in respect of this. I am delighted that hard work paid off and the new build is now included in the Capital Plan 2021,” said Butler.
