PRESS RELEASE - GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHOW REAL COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - TWOMEY

Fine Gael’s Dr. Liam Twomey welcomes the Government’s decision to close St. Senan’s Hospital and to move patients to a more modern care facility.
However Dr. Twomey expressed concern about the government’s sincerity in announcing this move as this proposal has been part of the Vision for Change policy document for a number of years.
He called on the government to show its commitment to real change for mental health patients. “The government should start construction immediately on a new unit at St. John’s Hospital, Enniscorthy for long stay psychiatric patients and it should also begin construction on a new acute psychiatric unit at Wexford General Hospital. This is what I expect the government to do if it is serious about its announcement yesterday. Mental Health Services across all levels, that includes primary care level, acute hospital care level and long stay care level, all need continuous investment to provide the necessary care for mental health patients in County Wexford. I now call on the Government to make a real commitment to Mental Health Services in a way that the people of county Wexford can believe in.”