Postpone opening of new mental health unit

n two articles in the Irish Examiner (February 16), Catherine Shanahan outlined the difficulties that the new mental-health unit in Cork University Hospital poses for staff. 

These include under-staffing and concerns about the security of staff and patients. I was, therefore, taken aback to read the editorial (February 16) on the new unit. The editor suggests that the unit should be opened immediately and “if a review is needed later, so be it”. What if the unit is opened immediately and a staff member or patient is attacked? What use would a review be then? Surely, these fundamental issues need to be addressed first.

Catherine Forde

Carrigwell

Carrignavar

Co Cork