Sinn Féin TD says individuals in mental health crises are being refused service at Waterford hospital
The man was brought to UHW.
Wicklow-Wexford Sinn Féin TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said individuals experiencing acute mental health crises were being turned away from University Hospital Waterford (UHW) due to a lack of capacity.
HSE figures showed that over 1,000 people had presented to Wexford General Hospital’s A&E Department in mental health crises between January and October 2025.
Deputy Ó Súilleabháin said because no acute mental health services are available in Wicklow or Wexford, individuals could either make a long journey to UHW or go to a local facility that lacks necessary support.
There are 42 beds in the department of psychiatry at UHW, with a service level-agreement with St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services in Dublin.
“In my office, we received far too many reports of patients waiting and being referred to an antiquated psychiatric department in Waterford city, only to be discharged or often refused services within hours due to a lack of staff or lack of space,” said Deputy Ó Súilleabháin.
“I am sure the Minister of State [Mary Butler] will agree it is completely unacceptable to have these circumstances in 2026 in a country that is awash with money.”
Waterford Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health, Mary Butler, said she took “umbrage” with the description of UHW’s service as antiquated.
Minister Butler said Deputy Ó Súilleabháin had misrepresented the situation, with Waterford and Wexford merged under one integrated healthcare area. The area is managed by Dr Sinéad Reynolds, a mental health specialist.
“To go back to what the Deputy has said in relation to acute beds, I am aware that there are none in Wexford. I am also aware that there are none in Tipperary,” said Minister Butler.
“We have done a capacity review of mental health beds and we will be having a look at this in the new year.”
Minister Butler said she would explore the possibilities of acute mental health beds in Wexford via a crisis house or high-level hostel.
“I am just reflecting what every politician in Wexford is saying and what the people coming to me are saying. They are saying that the facility in Waterford is not appropriate. I am not disparaging the work that they are doing,” said Deputy Ó Súilleabháin.
“When people in mental health crisis present at Wexford General Hospital, the staff there do not have the training, resources or expertise to be dealing with them.”
Minister Butler said that UHW’s new 50-bed department of psychiatry has been progressing slowly but steadily.
HSE Dublin-South East did not respond to requests for comment at the time of writing.
