Just under 1,000 patients presented at the Emergency Department at Portiuncula University Hospital with mental health related illnesses last year, the Regional Health Forum was told.
In response to questions from Cllr Alan Harney, Anne Cosgrove, Integrated Health Area Manager, Galway Roscommon confirmed that the facility had 879 adult attendances and 120 child attendances with mental health related illnesses registered at triage.
“In total there were 1,460 assessments undertaken in the ED in 2025 by the Mental Health team, however not all of these patients would have a Mental Health issue as their primary reason for attending. The number of patients with Mental Health presentation was 999. Mental Health assessment would have been undertaken following triage and referral by the EM/specialist teams.
The liaison service in Portiuncula Hospital currently consists of:
? 0.6 Liaison Consultant Psychiatrist Liaison NCHD Monday to Friday
? Psychiatric liaison nurse 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
? Deliberate self-harm nurse 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Ms Cosgrove confirmed that an ANP (Advanced Nurse Practitioner ) has been recruited to supplement the current mental health provision and business cases have been put forward to attain 24/7 mental health nurse on-site in ED to support patients presenting with mental health problems.
“Two newly appointed ‘SCAN’ nurses have been also appointed for traveller suicide prevention in GUH,” she added.
