HSE defends spending at Toghermore House in Tuam

The Area Manager for Galway and Roscommon PCCC was addressing a meeting of Tuam Town Council last night.

For over an hour Catherine Cunningham discussed proposed HSE changes in mental health services across the Galway-Roscommon region.

But she reacted swiftly when Mayor Imelda Kelly said the official owed an apology on behalf of the HSE for alleged spending on items including “gilt edged mirrors” and chandeliers at Toghermore House.

Catherine Cunningham said figures were exaggerated and she can’t be accountable for what some previous officials may have spent.

She put in new controls after taking over responsibility for services last February and in reply to Cllrs Larry Bane and Pat O’Hora she said it was “a red herring” to suggest there were ever any plans to turn Toghermore House into HSE offices.

Cllr Sally Ann Flanagan said the HSE was looking at numbers and budgets in its Vision for Change document but Catherine Cunningham replied it had nothing to do with numbers or budgets but was all about improving mental health services.

Cllr Paul O’Grady said he hoped that HSE planning permission for a proposed primary health care centre at the former Grove site wasn’t another “red herring” and Cllr Mary Loftus questioned why the HSE was trying to fix services at Toghermore House which weren’t broken.

Meanwhile, a review from an expert group on Toghermore residential facility in Tuam and other community mental health services across Galway and Roscommon is expected to be available in the next month.

A decision was made last December to wind down the 18 bed facility in Tuam after a report revealed fire safety shortfalls.

Funding was later sanctioned to address immediate issues which has enabled residents to remain there pending the recommendations of the review.

Executive Clinical Director Dr. Amanda Burke says the report is expected within the next three to four weeks.