The long awaited sexual assault treatment unit is expected to open in the city within weeks, the HSE West confirmed this week.
The temporary facility will be located at Parkmore. A permanent unit will eventually be built on the Merlin Park complex, a meeting of the Regional Health Forum West was told earlier this week.
In a statement the health authority outlined the opening of the unit was dependent on the necessary staffing, equipment and infrastructure being in place.
“The clinical nurse specialist has been recruited. Training has taken place for doctors and nurses interested in participating in the on-call rota. Interviews have been held for the post of manager of the facility and the selection of the person to fill this key post is at an advanced stage.
“A premises for the unit has been leased at Parkmore and fitting-out is taking place in accordance with approved plans and specifications. When premises, staffing and infrastructure are all in place it will be possible to give an estimated opening date for the service.
City councillor and former HSE West regional health forum vice-chairperson Catherine Connolly has been highly critical of the delay in opening the facility. She said it was “utterly deplorable”.
“For two years now the HSE West has repeatedly confirmed that the sexual assault unit was about to open but last April they actually gave an opening date. Indeed following a very specific written question at the Health Forum Meeting in Merlin Park in April, Alan Moran, director of services, confirmed in writing that the temporary premises were to be located in a medical centre on the Parkmore Road and were to open on the 25th May 2009. That date has now passed with no opening of the unit and there is no one to take responsibility. This is an appalling way for the HSE to deal with such an important service given the prevalence of sexual violence in the community.”
