Said Deputy Mulherin: "I wish to praise the staff at Ballina District Hospital who are willing to change work practices to save hospital beds and retain the services of St. Joseph’s.
"I also wish to compliment Frank Murphy, H.S.E. Manager and the Director of Nursing, Marie Alexander for all their work towards a resolution."
The Ballina-based TD says she has been diligently pursuing this matter and the problems facing Ballina District Hospital with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health and the H.S.E. management and staff.
Psychiatric Unit
"The retirement package put together by the last Government was badly targeted allowing frontline staff to leave without any regard to the needs of the service being provided. This is resulting in 13 beds being under threat of closure in the hospital by the end of February.
"In relation to potential changes to the Psychiatric Unit, I am assured that no patient will be left without a service. I welcome the fact that there is an assessment of need being conducted in respect of each patient by the appropriate clinicians.
"The best interest of the patient should be paramount in all decisions made in these tough times. A working group comprising Consultants, the Nursing Manager and Staff representatives has been constituted to make recommendations now services currently being made at the Psychiatric Unit can be provided in the future in light of current constraints," Deputy Mulherin added.
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