MHC find three child admissions in approved adult mental health centre
On Friday 28 February 2020, we published an inspection report on an in-patient mental health centre published today by the Mental Health Commission found that three children had been admitted to a unit in Limerick since the previous inspection. On the same day, we released a total of three reports which identified 12 high-risk non-compliance ratings across three units in Limerick, Mullingar and Portlaoise.
The three centres involved were; the Acute Psychiatric Unit 5B in University Hospital Limerick, St. Edna's Unit, St Loman's Hospital in Mullingar and The Maryborough Centre, St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise.
In the time between the November 2018 inspection of the acute psychiatric unit at University Hospital Limerick and the June 2019 inspection, three children had been admitted there, despite it being an adult approved centre. The report also noted that age-appropriate facilities and a programme of activities appropriate to children were not provided. While provisions were in in place to ensure the safety of the child, and to respond to a child’s special needs as a young person in an adult setting, the children did not have access to child advocacy services.
“The placing of children in adult units remains a totally unacceptable, but common feature of mental health care practice in Ireland,” said the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly. “The psychiatric unit at Limerick is an adult acute admission unit and, as such, is not structured or resourced to provide separate or specifically age-appropriate facilities.
Another area of concern highlighted in the reports was the consistent non-compliance with the regulation on staffing. All three approved centres had a high-risk non-compliance with staffing in relation to training. Not all staff were up to date or had been trained in mandatory training in fire safety, basic life support, prevention and management of aggression and violence, and the Mental Health Act 2001.
The Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr. Susan Finnerty added: “The Mental Health Commission has outlined basic training requirements for staff in order to provide a safe professional service for residents of acute mental health services. Failure to provide or avail of training in in fire safety, basic life support, prevention and management of aggression and violence, and the Mental Health Act 2001 puts service users and staff at risk.”
Our full statement can be read here.
