Independent Senator and European election candidate Senator Ronan Mullen
has expressed grave concern over the fact that 12 children and 8 adults are
currently receiving psychiatric treatment outside of Ireland.

The HSE should be required to explain whether everything possible was done
to enable those patients to receive their treatment in Ireland, Mr Mullen
said.

“It costs an average of EURO 13,000 per month for every child and adult
receiving treatment outside of Ireland.  Earlier this year, the HSE told us
that its 22-bed unit at St. Brigid’s Hospital in Ballinasloe had to be
closed so that resources could be applied for other care services.  It is
appalling that after spending approximately EURO 2.9 million euros of taxpayers
money on refurbishing St. Brigid’s Hospital, the last patient was
discharged on 27th March“


“I am simply baffled as to how it can be cost-effective to pay over EURO 3.1
million per year to private health care providers in other countries to
care for our vulnerable children and

adults, while at the same time closing down newly-refurbished state of the
art facilities at home.”

He continued:

“There are more than economic costs to consider here. We have to look
at the human cost of sending children and adults to other countries
for treatment and separating them from their families, sometimes for very
long periods of time. These are basic human rights issues for the
Government to consider here.”

Senator Mullen received the information about the extent and cost of
treatments abroad after submitting questions to the Mental Health Service
Division of the HSE.

“It is scandalous that we are closing top facilities in Ireland, and in
particular admissions units situated in therapeutic locations like St.
Brigid’s while at the same time sending people out of the country for