THE HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) has closed the Lakeview Acute Mental Health Unit at Naas General Hospital as a consequence of the ongoing dispute between the psychiatric nurses' unions and the HSE.
In a statement late yesterday afternoon the HSE said it was taking the "regrettable" decision to close the unit because it could not "deliver continuity of care in a safe environment".
Patients are being transferred to alternative facilities.
The HSE has asked anyone seeking further information to contact them on 045 849582.
Meanwhile, the Mental Health Commission, the regulatory body charged with promoting and protecting the rights of patients with mental illness, has written a strongly worded letter to David Begg, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and to the chief executive of the HSE, Brendan Drumm, calling for the immediate and full restoration of mental health services.
It said it was "deeply concerned" at the serious impact the dispute was having on the care and welfare of patients within the mental health service.
A war of words broke out earlier yesterday between unions representing psychiatric nurses and the HSE after a meeting scheduled to take place did not go ahead.
Both sides are blaming each other for its failure to take place.
The Psychiatric Nurses' Association general secretary Des Kavanagh told The Irish Times the meeting was deferred by Brendan Mulligan of the HSE Employers Agency.
However, Mr Mulligan denied he had deferred the meeting, claiming he had been "stood up" by union representatives.