Psychiatrists yesterday called on health authorities to fund new secure psychiatric beds for disturbed patients immediately in order to minimise the risks facing staff, the public and patients themselves.
The Irish College of Psychiatrists warned that the stabbing incident in Limerick raised serious issues about underfunding of facilities for patients who needed treatment in secure settings.
It emerged on Thursday that four consultant psychiatrists had written to the Health Service Executive last month, warning that lives were at risk due to a lack of secure psychiatric beds.
In particular, they said the closure of beds at a secure unit at St Brendan's Hospital in Dublin was denying patients proper treatment and putting staff in other centres at possibly fatal risk of attack.
However, the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE), Prof Brendan Drumm, insisted yesterday that the stabbing was not linked in any way to events at St Brendan's Hospital or the funding of secure units.
He told reporters in Dublin that there were secure beds available in Limerick and it would be wrong to link the two issues.
Prof Drumm said there were temporary difficulties trying to recruit and retain staff at St Brendan's and the HSE was examining new ways of trying to attract staff.
However, consultant psychiatrist Prof Patricia Casey rejected this last night and said all parts of the country were experiencing problems as a result of under-resourced secure beds.
She said staff in Limerick were trying to provide a service in very limited circumstances, without access to modern, secure psychiatric facilities for disturbed patients.
"He [ Prof Drumm] isn't aware of the reality on the ground. This recent problem is not just about staffing, as the HSE claims, but is indicative of a profound malaise . . . ," she said.
Meanwhile, the 55-year-old psychiatrist injured in the stabbing incident remained in a serious condition last night.
Dr Ananth Pullela, a forensic psychiatrist, suffered multiple stab wounds when a patient at St Anne's Psychiatric Day Hospital in Limerick attacked him at 3pm on Thursday afternoon.
His colleague, 64-year-old clinical psychologist Dr Catherine Burns, was also injured in the same attack but she was released from the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick yesterday evening.
Dr Pullela was transferred to Cork University Hospital due to the extent of his injuries and his condition was described as critical but stable last night.
Originally from India, the 55-year-old moved to Ireland in 2006 and lives in Newport, Co Tipperary, with his wife and family.
A highly respected forensic psychiatrist both here and abroad, shocked colleagues were yesterday praying for his safe recovery.
After qualifying in India in 1977 Dr Pullela moved to New Zealand where he worked as a forensic psychiatrist until the mid-1990s.
He was later head-hunted by Australian health officials to work with some of the country's most notorious sex offenders.
"He is extremely accomplished in his field and a highly respected and very well-liked colleague," said one source.
Dr Rachel Cullivan, an adult psychiatrist who worked with Dr Pullela, said her thoughts were with his family and the family of Dr Burns.
"Our main thoughts are with the people who have been injured and their families at what must be a most difficult time for them," she said.