Sir, - I refer to your article on post natal depression (June 1st) in which a Dr A McCarthy is quoted as saying that no psychiatric "service exists" in Maternity Hospitals "outside Dublin". He goes on to state that there is no mother and baby unit for in-patient psychiatric treatment in this country.
The Limerick Maternity Hospital is serviced by the six consultant psychiatrists in Limerick, one of whom is on 24-hour call to the Maternity Hospital on a weekly basis. Furthermore the Department of Psychiatry at the Limerick Regional Hospital contains a purpose-built Mother and Baby Unit for those patients requiring such a facility.
It is more than a little ironic that the Consultant attached to the National Maternity Hospital is so ill-informed about the services that exist outside the nations capital. - Yours, etc., (Dr) Peter Kirwan,
Clinical Director, Limerick Mental Health Service, Dept. of Psychiatry, Regional General Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick.