The sod turning ceremony, performed by Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health, marks the commencement of the new €15m unit that will replace the existing 46 bed unit on the hospital campus.
Developed in line with the requirements of A Vision for Change, the new purpose built in-patient unit will provide accommodation for patients with a mental illness requiring mental health assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. The unit will provide a better environment for patients and will have an increased number of single rooms and therapy rooms. It will include two 18-bed wards (all single en-suite rooms), a six-bed assessment/high observation ward, and an older person eight-bed ward, also with single rooms. The facility is also configured to be capable of providing a service to mother and infants in partnership with other services on site.
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Dr Eamonn Moloney, Executive Clinical Director, HSE Cork South Mental Health Services said: "This investment in our mental health services is most welcome. The new Unit will provide a much enhanced therapeutic environment for our patients and will enable us to cater specifically for client groups with particular requirements including older people. The new Unit is very much a positive step forward and something that is welcomed by all staff working in the service."
The unit will be located in the north-west corner of the Cork University Hospital campus and will also have clinical/therapy facilities and associated office accommodation. Outpatient facilities will continue to be provided in the main CUH Outpatient Department and in the local community.
(CD/MH)
