Fury at Kerry health unit delay

A DELAY in opening a new 15-bed unit for psychiatric patients in Killarney was described as “irresponsible” at the weekend.

Donie Doody, secretary of the Kerry Nurses and Allied Grades SIPTU branch, called for the €2.8 million unit at Upper Lewis Road to open without further delay.

Patients are due to be transferred from Cherryfield House in Killarney and he urged the HSE to have the process completed by Christmas. He said the building had been completed since July 2009, all rooms fully furnished and it was ready for occupation.

“There are no industrial relations problems and staff are available to move,” Mr Doody said.

“I believe it’s irresponsible behaviour to have this beautiful new facility lying idle for more than a year, whilst patients are being accommodated in an old and damp building that’s completely unsuitable to their needs.”

Cherryfield House, formerly the Killarney Isolation Hospital, has been used as a high-support hostel for people with mental health issues for several years.

An HSE spokesperson said the new facility is in the possession of the Kerry Mental Health Association (KMHA) which built it, and which intends to formally hand it over to the HSE.

“The legal arrangements around the formal hand- over of the unit are currently being finalised and, when complete, the HSE will transfer patients from the existing unit in Cherryfield to the new unit,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the political row between the Healy-Rae organisation and Fianna Fáil over credits for a new €8.5 million community hospital in Kenmare is continuing.

Kerry South Fianna Fáil TD John O’Donoghue has labelled as “disingenuous” claims by Jackie Healy-Rae that it was he who secured the all-clear for the hospital contract. Mr O’Donoghue said it was not fair for any individual politician to claim credit.