Minister Reilly officially opens the Ashlin Centre

Jul 08, 2014

Minister for Health Dr James Reilly TD officially opened the Ashlin Centre on Friday 4th July 2014.  The centre is a new inpatient psychiatric unit for North Dublin Mental Health Service (NDMHS).  GARLAND acted as project supervisor design process (PSDP) for the construction stage of this design and build project completed by Western Building Systems. 

The unit, which opened to patients in May 2014 , provides acute inpatient treatment and care for general adult and psychiatry of old age services to a population of approximately 250,000. Located on the Beaumont Hospital Campus, the Ashlin Centre replaces the acute inpatient unit formerly located in St Ita's Portrane and more recently at the Joyce Rooms, Fairview and the Hawthorn Unit at Connolly Hospital.

Speaking at the official opening, Minister Reilly TD said: "This state of the art facility, which the people of North Dublin and County have waited on for more than 20 years, replaces a near Dickensian admission unit on the St Ita's site where Doctors, Nurses and others tried to give care with dignity to patients in open wards of twenty and more with only a couple of toilets and a shower. This new facility will support the best of care within a suitable environment and is a further step on the road to de-stigmatising the issue of mental health".

Kathleen Lynch TD., Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health, said: "This wonderful new unit demonstrates in the most practical way that this Government is delivering on its commitments to invest in and modernise our mental health services. I am delighted that patients will have access to services of the highest quality in a modern setting and located on a major acute hospital campus. This will undoubtedly help reduce the stigma and isolation associated with how mental health services were delivered in the past."

The purpose built Ashlin Centre provides a safe and therapeutic environment to facilitate service users journey to recovery. The Centre accommodates the Joyce Unit and the Sheehan Unit. The Joyce Unit, a general adult psychiatric admission unit, on the ground floor, comprises 38 single ensuite rooms. The Sheehan Unit, also on the ground floor, is a separate unit, dedicated to psychiatry of old age. The Centre also has an extensive activity area and four courtyard gardens. The Centre is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team including nursing, medical, health and social care professionals, administrative and support staff.

Dr. Mary Cosgrave, Executive Clinical Director for the North Dublin Mental Health Service said "The opening of the Ashlin Centre represents a huge step forward for the North Dublin Mental Health Service. It enables us to facilitate and assist our patients on their journey to recovery in a state of the art, safe and caring environment in line with best national and international practices. The accommodation facilities have ample space for treatment programmes and relaxation".

The total cost, including enabling and ancillary works, was €13million. Funding for the unit was provided under the HSE Capital Plan for the development of psychiatric services nationally.