Mental Health Minister visits Gorey’s Tara House
THE STAFF at Tara House in Gorey Civic Square recently played host to Minister of State for Mental Health Helen McEntee.
Tara House has served as the HSE’s centre for community mental health services in the district for the past six years. It was established following a €3.5 million investment by the HSE.
The centre provides an outpatient psychiatrist, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, counselling and nursing services to clients from North Wexford.
James Leacy, general manager, for mental health services in Waterford and Wexford, welcomed the Minister’s visit, saying it was a boost to all those associated with the facility and a recognition of the day-to-day care being delivered from Tara House.
He said the Minister was keen to see how the services have made a difference in the community. ‘Facilities like Tara House have enabled the service to forge a continuum of care alternatives and treat patients insofar as possible within a community setting,’ he said. ‘We explained to the Minister how we have a team of eight nurses here, which includes two community mental health nurses.’
‘One of these provides a dedicated link with Newcastle Mental Health Services in Wicklow,’ he added. ‘As well as the six day hospital nursing staff, a consultant psychiatrist and a junior doctor are all located at Tara House.’
He said that there is also input from social work, occupational therapy, psychology and addiction counselling. A full time secretary and receptionist also support the team.
‘ There is also input from a SCAN nurse (Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse), who provides a dedicated fast track response to clients of GPs in the Gorey area who present with suicidal crisis,’ he continued.
‘Minister McEntee was also very interested to hear that services offered at Tara House in Gorey include a mental health day hospital, day care and assessment services,’ he stated. ‘Following referral and acceptance by the team, individual counselling, group counselling, outpatient clinic care, and referral to other mental health services are available.’
He said that these are dependent on the needs of the service user.
‘Minister McEntee was impressed to hear that Tara House is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and appointments can be arranged outside of those hours if required by a client,’ said Mr Leacy. ‘Access to the team at Tara House is generally by referral from GPs. There is an average of 30 new referrals to the team each month.’
‘We were delighted to show Minister McEntee around and to talk to her about the successes and ongoing plans for Tara House and the associated mental health services in this part of the country,’ he concluded.