Mental Health Commission finds four high risk non-compliances across three inpatient centres
We have this morning published inspection reports on three inpatient centres which found four high-risk non-compliances across three mental health centres.
The Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr Susan Finnerty, said that it was disappointing that all centres were rated as high-risk with regard to premises. “This is an issue we have consistently highlighted both during annual inspections and general reports. If centres are to care for older residents who may have reduced mobility, then the general environment must be suitable for them.”
The Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, echoed these concerns. “Approved centres should, above all, provide a safe dignified place for residents that is conducive to their needs. The MHC needs to see these issues being addressed at a local but more importantly at a strategic, national level. A comprehensive, costed and funded national plan is key to once and for all solving the issue of inpatient premises in Ireland.”
All three mental health services have submitted action plans addressing how they will bring these approved centres into full compliance. The MHC continues to closely monitor the steps taken by the service providers to implement these plans.
The Vergemount Mental Health Facility is located on the grounds of Clonskeagh Hospital in Dublin. The approved centre consists of Whitethorn House, which provides for continuing care of adults with enduring mental health needs and Le Brun House, which supports people under the care of the psychiatry of older age team.
The centre recorded an overall compliance rate of 79% in 2021. This was an improvement on the 63% rating received in 2020.
While the centre was generally kept in a good state of repair externally and internally, resident bedrooms were not appropriately sized to meet resident needs. Bedrooms were small, and provided limited space to move around in.
At the time of inspection, some residents of the centre had mobility issues and required walking frames, wheelchairs and rollators. The small size of the single rooms did not accommodate the comfortable use of this equipment. Premises was rated as a high-risk non-compliance.
The Department of Psychiatry at University Hospital Roscommon is a 22-bed acute mental health unit and is located on the premises of the county hospital in Roscommon town.
The inspection found that there were six teams with admitting rights to the centre. There were four general adult teams/sectors, a rehabilitation and recovery team, and a psychiatry of later life team. A home-based treatment team was available within the wider service.
The unit received an overall compliance rate of 88% on inspection, which was a 6% fall on the rating it received in 2020.
The centre was found to have two high risk non-compliances, which related to premises and privacy. Observation panels on two of the single bedroom doors were not fitted with blinds or opaque glass which risked compromising resident privacy. Residents in the centre did not have access to adequate personal space; two of the four bed dormitories were very small with only one metre between each of the beds.
Minimisation of ligature points was not to the lowest practicable level based on risk assessment. The centre had undertaken a three-phase plan to complete remedial works.
There were numerous quality initiatives observed, including twice-weekly ‘mutual help meetings’ as requested by residents. During these meetings, residents were afforded the opportunity to voice their views on positive or negative experiences in the unit.
The O’Casey Rooms is on the first floor of a community nursing unit owned by the Sisters of Charity at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Fairview. The centre is under the governance and management of North Dublin Mental Health Services (NDMHS) and NDMHS has been renting this first-floor space since 2011 from the Sisters of Charity.
Residents are under the care of either the rehabilitation team or the psychiatry of old age team. Most of the residents have been in residential mental health services for many years and are elderly.
The centre recorded an overall compliance rate of 91%, which was a small reduction on the 94% rating achieved in 2020.
This centre also recorded a high-risk non-compliance regarding premises. While residents could be accompanied to the larger outdoor area downstairs at the side of the building, this was not hugely convenient to residents with mobility issues. The centre was not developed with due regard to the specific needs of the residents due to the fact that it was on the first floor of the building and many residents had mobility issues.
Among quality initiatives, a ‘pen pals’ initiative was introduced as a communications tool for long-stay residents with the aim of building new friendships and maintaining older ones.
You can read our full statement here.
Vergemount Mental Health Facility Inspection Report 2021
Department of Psychiatry at University Hospital Roscommon Inspection Report 2021
O’Casey Rooms Fairview Community Unit Inspection Report 2021
