MHC statement 20.10.2025 on publication of inspection reports for four approved mental health centres
The Mental Health Commission (MHC) has published four inspection reports for approved inpatient mental health centres across Cork, Galway, Mayo and Wexford.
The centres inspected were:
- Cois Dalua, Co. Cork, which received 97% compliance with the rules, regulations and codes of practice.
- Selskar House, Farnogue Residential Healthcare Unit, Wexford, which received 97% compliance with the rules, regulations and codes of practice.
- St Anne's Unit, Sacred Heart Hospital, Co. Mayo, which received 94% compliance with the rules, regulations and codes of practice.
- Adult Acute Mental Health Unit, University Hospital Galway, which received 83% compliance with the rules, regulations and codes of practice.
The inspector found varying levels of compliance with the rules, regulations and codes of practice. Three centres were between 90-100% compliant, while one centre was between 80-90% compliant.
Some areas of good practices observed over the course of the inspections included:
- The individual care planning booklet at Cois Dalua used a SMART approach (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound), which created a clear, actionable, and person-centred and holistic care planning process.
- To ensure that the physical environment was designed to achieve the best outcomes for residents, there was a multi-purpose space which is utilised as a quiet room and de-escalation space at Selskar House.
- A new leaflet titled ‘Eating for a Healthy Heart’ was developed and introduced at St Anne’s Unit, Sacred Heart Hospital to help residents improve cardiovascular health through diet.
Critical and high-risk non-compliances observed during inspections were:
- Four critical risk non-compliances with Regulations in Privacy; Premises; Risk Management Procedures; and the Rules Governing the Use of Seclusion, at the Adult Acute Mental Health Unit at University Hospital Galway.
- One critical risk non-compliance with the Regulation on Ordering, Prescribing, Storing and Administration of Medicines at Selskar House.
- One high risk non-compliance with Part 4 of The Mental Health Act 2001: Consent to Treatment at Cois Dalua.
The MHC requires corrective and preventive action plans (CAPAs) from all services where non-compliances are identified, each of which must address each non-compliance specifically. The MHC monitors the implementation of these CAPAs on an ongoing basis and requests further information and action as necessary. Enforcement action is taken when the MHC is concerned that the care and treatment provided in an approved centre may be at risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of residents, or where there has been a failure by the provider to address an ongoing area of non-compliance.
All critical risk issues are considered by the MHC’s Regulatory Management Team (RMT) as a matter of course. Enforcement actions commonly arise from inspection findings, quality and safety notifications, and compliance monitoring. Enforcement actions available to the MHC range from the aforementioned CAPAs (at the lower end of enforcement) to removing an approved centre from the register and/or pursuing prosecution (at the higher end).
Links to the Reports
