St. Vincent’s University Hospital’s mental health team takes to two wheels to bring care to older people at home

25th August 2026

 

New ‘Psyclist’ initiative combines community patient care, staff wellbeing and more sustainable healthcare

A community mental health team at St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) is taking to two wheels as part of a new initiative to help healthcare professionals reach older people in their own homes across south Dublin.

The Mental Health Service for Older People provides assessment and treatment to people aged 65 and over in their homes. The multidisciplinary team includes doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers.

Through its new “Psyclist” project, the team has introduced three e-bikes which can be used by staff travelling to suitable community appointments as an alternative to using a car.

For a service where healthcare professionals regularly travel between patients’ homes, the bikes offer a practical way to avoid traffic and parking delays and help staff reach patients efficiently.

The initiative also aims to support staff health and wellbeing by incorporating physical activity into the working day, while reducing car journeys and their associated emissions, traffic and noise pollution in the local community.

“It has been so much fun doing joint doctor and nursing visits together on two wheels. Choosing active, sustainable travel doesn’t just help us lower healthcare emissions, it helps us show up at our patients’ doorsteps energised, clear-headed and ready to support them,” said Dr Caoimhe Clarke, Consultant Psychiatrist.

Alongside the introduction of the bikes, the team is undertaking a research study to explore healthcare staff attitudes towards cycling as part of community healthcare delivery, including what encourages staff to choose active travel and the barriers that can make it more difficult.

The study will also consider the wider potential benefits of active travel for healthcare services, including increased physical activity among staff, reduced pressure on hospital car parking, lower mileage and parking costs and a reduced carbon footprint, supporting the HSE’s wider sustainability goals.

The team hopes the project will provide useful learning on how active and sustainable travel (like cycling) can be incorporated into the delivery of community healthcare.

The Psyclist Research Study Group includes Dr Caoimhe Clarke, Consultant Psychiatrist, Mental Health for Older Persons; Dr Leonard Douglas, Consultant Psychiatrist, Mental Health for Older Persons; Dr Ailsa Lyons, Head of Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion; and Nick Wall, UCD Medical Student.

The project is supported by funding from the HSE Consultants Innovation Fund.

ENDS