Mental Health ward closure - 'a change, not cuts'

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A nurse has claimed patient care at the Ulster Hospital could be jeopardised, if as proposed, inpatient mental health care is transfered to Lagan Valley hospital.

Under proposals, Ward 27, a 24 bed mental health inpatient unit, will be closed within two years and services transfered to a centralised South Eastern Trust unit in Lagan Valley hospital.

The news has been condemned by staff at the Ulster Hospital, ahead of several public consultation days.

One mental health nurse told the Chronicle: "I am concerned that they are potentially moving 24 beds from the Ulster Hospital to Lagan Valley.

"I feel this will bring services back a step and make patients feel like they are going to an institution along with the stigma associated with it."

The nurse continued: "Surely this is just another exercise in wasting money. The trust only recently spent £1.5 million on moving the mental health provision from Newtownards to the Ulster Hospital. Now they are moving it again. They are saying community treatment is improving. But ultimately this will effect people who need hospitalised. People across Ards and North Down will have to travel very far. I would ask people to get out and attend the public consultation meetings and have their opinions heard by the trust to stop this ward closure."

In an interview with the Chronicle, Don Bradley Assistant Director for Mental Health for the South Eastern Trust, refuted claims that the closure is for cost cutting.

Full report in this week's Chronicle.