Minister for State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, has confirmed that addiction treatment counsellors for the new community alcohol treatment service in Galway have commenced in post on Monday. A new premises has been acquired and fitted out for the new service on Merchants Road.
Minister Naughton had successfully fought for the reintroduction of a community-based alcohol treatment service for Galway in recent years.
Deputy Naughton had worked with local doctors, addiction counsellors and gardai over the last two years and held meetings with both the former minister for health, Simon Harris TD, and the former minister for health promotion, Catherine Byrne TD, in relation to the matter. She also has received full support from the present Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy Frank Feighan TD.
“I am delighted that I have been able to have this service reintroduced. Since the old facility burned down in 2012 there has been no dedicated alcohol addiction treatment service in Galway,” Minister Naughton said.
“This has created huge problems for patients and their families and has caused a major burden to fall on local GPs who had no referral system and also pressure on the Psychiatric and Emergency departments at UCHG. This will no longer be the case,” Minister Naughton stated.
“I particularly want to thank the working group members who worked so diligently and without whom this service would not have been restored. They include Sean Harty, Addiction Counsellor and outgoing chairperson of addiction counsellors of Ireland, Dr Caitriona Monaghan, GP, Corrib Medical Centre, Dr Lynn Spooner, ER, UHG, Dr Anne Doherty, psychiatrist, Dr Brian McNicholl, ER, UHG, Dr Brian Osbourne, Knocknacarra Medical Centre and Mr Joseph Treacy, addiction counsellor. I would also like to thank the CEO of the Saolta Group, Mr Tony Canavan and the chief officer, HSE CHO2, Breda Crehan Roche for all their help and support.
She concluded: “While it will take a few weeks yet to get the service operational due to staff training and confirming a referral pathway from the medical profession and other services, I am delighted to see the counsellors commence work on Monday. This is a service that is badly needed in Galway and I am delighted that I was able to do my part in securing its reestablishment.”
