Closure of Climber Hall would be detrimental for mental health service provision – Doherty

Fine Gael Meath East TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, has today (Tuesday) voiced her concerns about suggestions that Climber Hall in Kells could be closed as part of the reconfiguration of local mental health services.

“Climber Hall provides fantastic care and support to the 40 people who access it services, which are provided by just two local nurses. Climber Hall is a crucial element in the provision of mental health services in Meath.

“It has been suggested that local people need to choose between day care services for mental health provision, such as those provided in Climber Hall, and day hospital services. In my view these two services are not competing or comparable. Rather they are complimentary of each other.

“It would be an extremely regressive move if a facility like Climber Hall was closed and its patients were forced back into a hospital setting. I attended the HSE meeting in the Westcourt Hotel in Drogheda yesterday, where members of the public gave their views on how they want mental health services to be delivered locally. The resounding message was, unsurprisingly, that people want increased services, not service reductions.

“Community mental health teams are being reorganised and enhanced as part of A Vision for Change. This should help to improve services, not restrict them. The local response from the clinical leaders in Meath has been to question whether we need both day care settings – such as Climber Hall – and day hospital services. In my view, the answer is clear; yes we do.

“I will be opposing any moves to close or downgrade Climber Hall, which provides an excellent level of care. The very nature of mental health problems means people need varying levels of treatment. Those recovering from mental health difficulties benefit hugely from being able to access support from facilities like Climber Hall.

“I will be pushing for full consultation with all stakeholders over the next two weeks to ensure services at Climber Hall can be safeguarded.”

ENDS