Consultant Psychiatrist to Be Appointed at Wexford General Hospital

A dedicated consultant psychiatrist is to be based at Wexford General Hospital in what has been described as a major development for mental-health services in County Wexford.

Wexford Minister James Browne announced the new position exclusively this morning on South East Radio’s Morning Mix.

Minister Browne said the position has already been offered to a successful candidate who has accepted the role and is expected to begin working at the hospital within the next two months.

He said the appointment had been secured following discussions and ongoing work with Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler.

The new consultant liaison psychiatrist will assess patients who present with mental-health difficulties through the Emergency Department at Wexford General Hospital.

The consultant will also be available to assess patients who have already been admitted to other wards within the hospital and who require specialist psychiatric support.

Their work will include assessing, triaging and treating patients before determining the most appropriate next stage of their care.

Depending on an individual patient’s needs, that could involve treatment within Wexford General Hospital, referral to community-based services, access to residential support or admission to an inpatient psychiatric facility.

Minister Browne said it would be the first time a consultant psychiatrist had operated from a Wexford hospital since the closure of St Senan’s Psychiatric Hospital.

The appointment is expected to reduce the number of patients who must travel from Wexford to Waterford to receive a psychiatric assessment.

Concerns have repeatedly been raised about people presenting at Wexford General Hospital during a mental-health crisis and then facing a further journey to Waterford before their needs can be fully assessed.

Minister Browne said this additional journey could cause considerable stress to patients and their families.

He said some people may ultimately return home rather than continue to Waterford potentially leaving them without the support they require.

The Minister described the establishment of a consultant-led liaison service at Wexford General Hospital as a crucial step towards restoring mental-health provision within the county.

Attention will now turn to the delivery of additional mental-health beds in Wexford.

Minister Browne acknowledged that medical staff and suitable accommodation must be provided together for a comprehensive local service to operate.

He said the appointment of the consultant psychiatrist represented an important step towards securing the remaining services and facilities required in the county.

A number of support beds are already available at St John’s Community Hospital in Enniscorthy but calls have continued for additional residential and acute mental-health capacity.

Minister Browne said discussions were continuing with Minister Mary Butler on delivering further beds, including a proposed secure ten-bed residential unit.

The announcement follows years of concern about the absence of acute inpatient psychiatric facilities in County Wexford and the effect this has had on patients experiencing an immediate mental-health crisis.