Just two psychiatrists in Gransha

At Gransha - Londonderry’s acute psychiatric admission hospital which provides inpatient mental health care for those patients who are not suitable for treatment within a community setting - there are just two consultant psychiatrists.

And at Lakeview - which looks after the needs of adults and children with learning disabilities and provides both inpatient assessment and treatment services, as well as outpatient clinics for the Western Trust area - there are also just two full-time consultant psychiatrists.

Health Minister Edwin Poots revealed the staffing levels in response to an Assembly Question.

He did advise that the Western Trust also employed a number of psychiatrists in a community setting.

He stated: “Western Trust also employ a number of consultants who are dedicated to community and specialist services and are not based in a hospital setting, e.g. Primary Care Liaison, Forensics and Addiction Services.”

The Northern Ireland hospitals employing most consultant psychiatrists are as follows: Holywell Hospital (17); Ards Hospital (10); St Luke’s Hospital (9); Downshire Hospital (6); Craigavon Area Hospital (5); Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (5).