Chief denies Finneston House closure claims

Chief denies Finneston House closure claims

24 March 2021

THE district’s most senior health chief has categorically dismissed rumours that a key facility based in Downpatrick is to close at the weekend.

Finneston House — run by the South Eastern Trust — is based at the Ardglass Road on the outskirts of the town and provides an acute mental health community service.

Last week, a number of councillors posted on social media that they had been made aware of reports that the facility, which has a long history as a base for mental health services, was to close at weekends with services moved to Belfast.

Dispelling the rumours during a special briefing with local politicians on Monday afternoon, Mr Seamus McGoran said there were “absolutely no plans” to close Finneston House which, he said, was line for a £500,000 investment to support the continued delivery of mental health and other community services.

Mr McGoran, acting chief executive of the South Eastern Trust, said he was more than happy to set the record on the future of the mental health facility.

“There are absolutely no plans at all to remove the weekend mental health service from Finneston House and relocate to Belfast,” he declared.

He said he was “somewhat irked” that some councillors had chosen to put out a statement on social media last week saying that he had received “disturbing reports” that the health trust was going to transfer the service.

“This is absolutely not true and I would prefer if any of you [councillors] have issues or concerns that you would ask the Trust about them,” continued Mr McGoran.

“What happens is your hear rumours and treat them as fact and start making statements on the back of that. We have an obligation to communicate responsibly with the public and we have an obligation not to create anxiety with the very people who need to access our mental health services.”

“Finneston House will continue to be there and if there is more demand for the service it provides we will put more resources into it. That will be how we deliver the service,” he said.

“I don’t know where these rumours came from and I would make a plea to please talk to us before starting putting stuff on social media. That’s how we get a constructive relationship.”

Mr McGoran added: “When councillors start to put messages out as if they are factual it does not do the people we serve any good. In fact, it creates anxiety where there is no need.”

Confirming the planned £500,000 investment at Finneston House, Mrs Roisin Coulter, the health trust’s director of planning and performance, said that a decade ago there were plans to dispose of the facility.

She said that since then, services provided there had grown  and it now played an important role.