Opposition grows to mental hospital at prison site

Opposition to Government proposals to locate the Central Mental Hospital in the new Mountjoy prison complex escalated today.

The Irish College of Psychiatrists joined the State’s mental health watchdog, patients’ relatives and, other health professionals in voicing their concern over the possible move.

Dr Kate Ganter, chair of the college, said the new site being considered was not an appropriate location for the hospital service.

“A clear demarcation between and prison and a treatment services is needed. People with mental illness are already stigmatised and this would stigmatise them further,” she said.

Dr Ganter said health professionals working at the hospital did not believe it was suitable move.

She said that patients in the Central Mental Hospital were not viewed as prisoners, but ill individuals needing a therapeutic environment.

“Even being on the same grounds as a prison one would consider is not a therapeutic environment,” she said.

Minister for Health Mary Harney, last month acknowledged that the main function of the hospital was therapeutic and not incarceration.

Dr Ganter said the Central Mental Hospital needed new modern facilities but not on the same site as Mountjoy.

She said the psychiatrists would be contacting the Health Department over the issue.