A lack of comprehensive addiction services in the city is adding to overcrowding at University Hospital Galway, a city addiction counsellor has warned.
Trolley Watch figures show 22 patients on trolleys at University Hospital Galway yesterday, with a further nine patients placed on already full wards, and Joe Treacy of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has warned that forcing patients with addiction problems to present there is contributing to congestion at the hospital.
Stressing that, for a city of its size, Galway's addiction services are inadequate, Mr Treacy also pointed out that there is no “meaningful” service to engage with the 20,000 young people living here in relation to alcohol and substance abuse on a daily basis.
And the relocation to UHG of addiction services previously provided at the specialised centre at Merlin Park following a fire there in September 2013 is also adding the city's inability to deal with the growing problem, according to Mr Treacy.
The former unit is now deteriorating by the day and no suitable alternative premises has been found, said Mr Treacy. Addiction services are now being provided in the Department of Psychiatry complex on the grounds of University Hospital Galway, which Mr Treacy described as “a congested, over-occupied site” that “doesn't lend itself to people engaging with alcohol or addiction services”.
“Merlin Park is a more suitable site for what we want to do, we do not want an already congested, overworked, overburdened University College Hospital Galway.”
Privacy is key for service users, he said. “You just can't expect people to come into a very busy thoroughfare. There is no parking, there is no accessible area and it just does not encourage people to come forward with alcohol addiction problems.” Service users and GPs have indicated that people will show huge reluctance to engage with the services at UHG, according to Mr Treacy.
Source: Galway Independent, 29/01/14
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