AN INSPECTION OF the Department of Psychiatry at Roscommon hospital found its outside area “unfit for purpose” and “deeply stigmatising”.
The Inspector of Mental Health Services said it also did not respect the dignity of the residents.
The “unpleasant” area is described as being “very small and concreted” with a “rusting shed for shelter”.
It was enclosed by a metal fence and “had all the appearance of a cage”.
According to the report, “There was no free access to any other outside space”.
However, it was noted that there were “plans to remedy this” with a new garden area but no timeframe has been decided.
The watchdog inspects approved mental health centres each year to ensure compliance with the regulations, rules and codes of practices which govern them.
Overall, the 22-bed Roscommon centre was found to be mostly “fully or substantially compliant” except for in the case of complaints procedures. In this area, the inspector said the centre needs “significant improvement”. Currently, no complaints records are kept.
There were also a number of positives recorded at the Roscommon hospital. Staff were praised for being knowledgeable, focussed and caring and each resident was given a “good individual multidisciplinary care plan”.
Batch
The inspectorate releases reports in batches with seven published today.
Of those, all were seen as almost fully compliant but there were individual issues with each establishment.
There were a number of maintenance problems spotted at the Acute Mental Health Unit in Mayo General Hospital.
Its report said:
Maintenance of the approved centre was not good. There were a number of deficits such as a leaking roof, faulty windows, broken toilet, broken laundry and kitchen appliances and plumbing difficulties. In order to make toilet doors safe, the maintenance department had cut so much from the doors that it was now possible to view someone inside the cubicle. Also the toilet doors did not have locks.
Meanwhile, the unannounced inspection at St John of God Services revealed issues with admissions.
The inspectors found the policy of admitting patients to their local approved centre before final transfer was “unacceptable”.
“It has the potential to cause unnecessary hardship and distress to patients and is not in their best interests,” they explained.
Good care
In contrast, Lakeview Unit in Naas General Hospital had been newly repainted and fitted out with brightly-coloured modern seating. Residents have access to sitting rooms, other recreational space and an “attractive garden”.
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