End is in sight as date set for Arden House opening
WHILE last week it was reported that staff in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) were finally due to make the long awaited move across from Slaney House on the Newtown Road to Arden House in the Whitemill Industrial Estate yesterday (Monday), it now appears that there is one final delay for the move.
While staff were due to be operating from the new building from yesterday, it’s now reported that due to Covid-19 and subsequent restrictions and pressures on staff, Arden House won’t become fully operational until Monday, May 5. It is understood that staff have been busy moving files and equipment across to the new building in recent days, but the current pandemic has resulted in one more short delay.
Arden House was first earmarked to be the new home of CAMHS in Wexford town some two and a half years ago in a long running saga that started before the controversial resignation of Child Psychiatric Consultant Dr Kieran Moore. Among the reasons given by Dr Moore at the time was that Slaney House was ‘completely unfit for purpose’ and that staff were having to deal with excessive workloads.
The mooted move to Arden House faced several delays in the intervening period, with the HSE spending nearly a quarter of a million euro in rent on the building while a depleted staff continued to operate from the cramped and unsuitable confines of Slaney House. However, while it was initially believed that Monday would be D-Day for staff operating from the new building, this has now been put back until May 5. It most definitely does provide light at the end of the tunnel of a long running saga and follows on from the long awaited appointment of a replacement for Dr Moore in February.
Local mental health advocate and parent Raymond Shannon has been campaigning for improved mental health services for children and a move to Arden House for years. He was delighted with the news that there’s finally some light at the end of what has been a long tunnel.
‘Absolutely, it finally feels like we’ve had a bit of a breakthrough,’ he said. ‘We’ve waited years for this so we can wait another two weeks. They needed a proper premises in order to attract the staff that they need, so hopefully this is the beginning of the end. They’re still short on staff, but this is a major step in the right direction.’
Raymond wished to thank everyone who has rowed in behind the campaign for improved services in recent years, particularly noting the work of the Wexford Mental Health Warriors and Dr Kieran Moore, who expressed his happiness that progress was finally being made via his Twitter account. ‘Congratulations,’ he said. ‘Finally. Well done to all those parents, children and politicians who never let up on advocating.’
One of those politicians who has been active in making a case for CAMHS in Wexford in recent years is Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Mental Health James Browne who described it as good news at a time when good news is desperately needed.
‘We’ve had a lot of false dawns and false hopes over the years,’ he said. ‘It’s wonderful to see this finally happening. We know there’s a Consultant Child Psychiatrist now in place on a short term contract, but as I’ve said before, I think one of the reasons it’s been hard to attract someone on a long term basis is that Slaney House was just not fit for purpose. Hopefully now we’ll see someone appointed on a long term or maybe the current psychiatrist will stay on.’
‘Overall, I’m delighted for the families,’ he continued.
‘They’ve had to fight for this tooth and nail and do what no family should have to do - become advocates on behalf of their children. It’s their determination that’s brought this over the line and it should have happened years ago.’
Deputy Browne stated his optimism that following the move to a new building, a long term child psychiatrist would be appointed and this would lead to more desperately needed staff being appointed.
‘I know there’s a need for occupational therapists, dieticians and staff in other areas,’ he said.
‘CAMHS is very much a consultant led system and I’d be hopeful that with a new building and a consultant child psychiatrist in place they’ll be able to attract and keep staff in place. The staff deserve to be able to work out of the best possible facility too.’