Undercover reporter carrying knife sparks anger at psychiatric centre

THE HSE has made a complaint against a radio station to gardaí over an undercover report from Limerick.

The HSE made the complaint against the Newstalk 106 station after it claimed an undercover reporter entered a day psychiatric centre in Limerick carrying a knife.

A HSE spokesman said yesterday staff in Limerick Mental Health Services were shocked by the content of a Newstalk 106 programme last Friday.

The programme centred on security in psychiatric units. A HSE spokesman said the programme had served only to misrepresent the purpose and character of psychiatric day hospitals.

He said: “We are running a psychiatric service and not a prison. In the aftermath of the two stabbings of our staff members at St Anne’s day hospital in Limerick last January, their clinical colleagues were adamant they would not retreat to a prison or fortress-type regime.”

He said an undercover reporter entered the building and approached the receptionist seeking an appointment and then entered a bathroom before leaving the building.

He said: “This rather mundane episode was reported on live radio in an emotive fashion together with a claim that the reporter had been carrying a number of knives. It should be recognised that St Anne’s Day Hospital provides for those with mental health problems from a population of 50,000 in south-east Limerick. A balance must be struck between providing a facility that is accessible and welcoming while also being safe and secure. Professional medical opinion is that the use of metal detectors and or routine searching of individuals is not consistent with best practice and is inappropriate for a community day hospital.”

The spokesman said the levels of security at St Anne’s are, if anything, greater than similar facilities elsewhere in the country.

He said: “It is common knowledge there is currently a dispute between the HSE management and Newstalk 106 over their reporting methods. If they wish to attack health service managers, fair enough, but there is no justification for causing upset and hurt to medical professionals and patients and their families.”