Nesbitt praises dedication and care from Downe staff

Nesbitt praises dedication and care from Downe staff

6 November 2024

STORMONT health minister Mike Nesbitt has praised the care, professionalism and dedication of Downe Hospital staff.

His comments come after a visit to the Downpatrick facility where he also met with service users and senior officials from the South Eastern Trust.

Mr Nesbitt — who visited the dementia assessment and treatment unit and mental health inpatient unit — said mental health is one of his key areas of focus.

He was joined by the health trust’s chief executive Roisin Coulter and assistant director of community mental health Jackie Carr, both of whom were keen to show Mr Nesbitt the work that takes place in the Downe Hospital.

While there, the health minister also had an opportunity to chat to some service users, hospital consultants and nurses and was really pleased to receive a hand-made tile painting to commemorate his visit.

“It was great to visit the Downe Hospital, it is a really good functioning hospital,” he said.

“One of my passions is good mental health and that is becoming much more of a challenge to health and social care, particularly with a more elderly population.”

Mr Nesbitt said it was important to see doctors and nurses who are working with people who have severe mental health issues and patients with dementia. 

“The care, professionalism and the dedication of staff is what I will take away with me today.  This really energises me in my role.”

Mrs Coulter said the health trust was delighted Mr Nesbitt visited the Downe which “showed his and the organisation’s commitment to mental health and dementia services. 

“There is a tremendous history here and pride in supporting people with mental illness, not only in the hospital, but also in the community,” she continued.

“We are very clear about the challenges we are facing and we need to have more investment in mental health services.”

As well as visiting the 10-bedded dementia assessment and treatment unit, Mr Nesbitt toured the mental health inpatient unit which has 25 beds for people with a mental illness, but without a diagnosis of dementia. 

It is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by multi-disciplinary teams such as medical psychiatry, nursing, social work and occupational therapy staff.

The health trust’s assistant director of community mental health, Jackie Carr, said mental health appears to be a priority for the Minister. 

“It is important that he sees the great work that we have done in the Trust and the work that still  needs to be done,” she continued.

“The Covid pandemic definitely has had an impact, but more than that, we are also seeing an increase in the complexity of need and almost a trebling in demand for our services.”

Ms Carr added: “We know that we have more people under 65 developing dementia and we are seeing a lot more issues with drugs and alcohol.”

She said staff and service users really appreciated the health minister’s visit and getting the opportunity to discuss the work they do in mental health, that they are so passionate about.