Fast-growing Laois town left with no HSE health centre

People living in Graiguecullen have lost access to a HSE health centre which a local community activist believes should be restored especially for people in need of help with their mental health.

The Health Clinic in Oakley Park, which is located right on the Carlow Laois border, shut when the pandemic struck and has not reopened. For a time people who attended the centre were given the option of travelling to Portlaoiase. This since changed and similar services are being provided in nearby Carlow town.

Aaron Kelly, is Sinn Féin's local representative for Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District.

He says he was contacted by a number of people in recent months who regularly attended the mental health services provided by the HSE at the Health Clinic.

"I was informed that the clinic had stopped providing these much-needed services during the Covid-19 lockdown as they were unable to provide adequate social distancing facilities due to the size of the clinic. Instead, all services were centralised to Portlaoise at the time. 
 
"This made it very difficult for people from Graiguecullen who may not have the means to travel to Portlaoise for such an essential service on a regular basis, particularly during such challenging times. As everywhere reopened and social distancing came to an end, and following a risk assessment from the HSE, it was decided that the Oakley Park clinic would no longer provide mental health services to the people of Graiguecullen unless they were willing to travel to Portlaoise," he said.

Mr Kelly said the following representations where assistance was given by his party colleagues Cllr Aidan Mullins and Brian Stanley TD, it was agreed that the people of Graiguecullen who required these much-needed mental health services could avail of these through St. Dympnas in Carlow to save them having to travel to Portlaoise. 
 
He said this not the outcome he hoped for as he believes that places like Graiguecullen should have their own mental health facilities. He said a county border should not stop people from getting the services they need.

A statement from Mr Kelly added that a recent survey showed that one in five people who were referred for counselling by the HSE was forced to wait more than a year for their first session. 

He added that he and his party would continue pushing for improved mental health services locally.

"Our mental health is more important than most of us even realise, and it should always be prioritised," he said.

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The delivery of health care in Graiguecullen is complicated by the fact that Laois is part of the HSE's Louth Meath Community Health Office and the Laois Offaly Local Health Office.

Neighbouring Carlow town is Community Health Office Area 5 which covers South Tipperary, Carlow/Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford. The town is also a Carlow Kilkenny Local Health Office.