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Minister for Disability and Mental Health, John Moloney TD officially opened the Pine Ward, a new acute psychiatric ward at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.
The opening of the ward marks the completion of the new acute admission facility for the North West Dublin Mental Health Service, which serves the areas; Cabra, Finglas and Blanchardstown.
The recent transfer of 12 patients from St. Brendan's Hospital into the Pine Ward marked a key milestone in the modernisation of Mental Health Services in Dublin North East. The occupancy of the Pine Ward is the penultimate stage in a long process which when complete, will lead to the de-commissioning of the old institutional facilities at St. Brendan's.
Minister Moloney said: "I am pleased that acute admissions to Grangegorman have ceased during my time as Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health. It is the end of an era; St Brendan's opened its doors to patients in 1814 and now those doors have finally been closed to new acute admissions with the opening of the Pine Ward. When I look around me here and see the excellent facilities which have been provided for our service users and staff, I see that 'A Vision for Change' is alive and well. It is clear that we are making progress on implementation."
It was announced on 21st September at the launch of the Grangegorman Development Project that the modernisation of the North West Dublin Mental Health Service will continue with the construction of replacement mental health facilities on the St. Brendan's Hospital site.
€19 million has been allocated by the Government for a 54 bed facility, which will replace St. Brendan's remaining units. Service users will each have an en-suite bedroom and access to a range of light filled therapeutic spaces and outdoor areas. The new development will complete the de-commissioning of the old psychiatric facilities at St. Brendan's and will mark the first phase of the redevelopment of the St. Brendan's site as part of the overall strategic plan for the Grangegorman campus.
(CD)
