THERE HAS been a "substantial increase" in the number of psychiatrically ill people being committed to prison because of cutbacks in the health service, the conference was told yesterday.
Colm Cronin, chairman of the Cork Prison POA branch, said cutbacks in acute psychiatric beds and the non-availability of beds for prisoners with severe psychiatric disorders was leading to a "severe crisis" within the prison service.
He also described the Mental Health Act in relation to the committal of prisoners as a "joke".
"We are not only dealing with prisoners who need protection, but we are also dealing with prisoners with psychiatric disorders.
"Our medical staff do the best job that they can do, but they do not have the facilities to maintain a 24-hour watch on prisoners who suffer from psychiatric disorders."
The POA unanimously passed a motion that prisons should not be used as an alternative to community or hospital care for those suffering mental health problems.
