Paul Fenlon holding a photo of his brother Nicholas. Pic: John Walsh
THE BROTHER of a 32-year-old man who committed suicide while on an isolation ward in Waterford Regional Hospital has spoken out about the inadequacy of services available to people who are dealing with mental health issues.
Paul Fenlon lost his brother Nicky just under two weeks ago after the young man, who had been battling depression and schizophrenia for the past three years, spent almost three days in psychiatric care in Waterford Regional Hospital. Nicky was found dead in his isolation ward room shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Friday, January 29.
An investigation into the incident is currently being carried out.
But Paul believes that the real problems lie in the provision of services itself, slamming the lack of 24-hour psychiatric care for people in Wexford and remarking that cutbacks in this area of the health service were killing people.
He remarked: “The government needs to make mental health a top priority. It is one of those things that eats into you until you just can’t stand it anymore. There should be a 24-hour service in Wexford – what would it cost just to have one psychiatric nurse at the hospital?”
He added: “I don’t think they really care. The doctors and nurses are doing their best but their hands are tied by cutbacks and those cutbacks are killing people.”
In relation to his brother’s suicide, Paul said his family are devastated but are equally as confused as to how such an incident could happen: “How was he able to do what he did while in hospital? This should never have happened.”
General Election candidate and close friend of Nicky’s, Emmet Moloney remarked: “I think what’s very difficult for the family to understand is that when Nicky went into hospital they expected him to be safe and looked after. They want to know how this could happen and I think it highlights the shortages in the health service. For this to happen in a health facility is unacceptable.”
Nicky Fenlon is survived by his parents Nicky and Mary, sisters Sharon and Susan, and brothers Paul and Stephen.
Paul concluded: “We are all devastated. As a family, we are coping the best we can and trying to come to terms with what has happened. But knowing that we will never see Nicky again, that is the hardest part.”
A statement from the HSE said: “The HSE can confirm that a patient of the Department of Psychiatry acute unit, located on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford, has died.
“The HSE is liaising with the patient’s family, the Mental Health Commission and – as per HSE protocol – is carrying out its own internal review of the incident which occurred last week.
“The HSE extends its deepest sympathy to the patient’s family and continues to offer any support necessary.”
[Full story in this week’s Echo]
