Inspection of mental health units finds repeat failings

FAILINGS in mental health units across the country including “serious deficits” in services, “unacceptable” living conditions, and “insufficient” bathing facilities, have been highlighted in the 2008 Inspector of Mental Health Services report.

Among problems revealed in the report, children complained of a lack of a privacy while dressing and undressing, facilities that were understaffed, lacking therapeutic services and in need of redecoration and upgrading.

The report on 34 psychiatric hospitals, to be published later this year, also highlights a failure to implement recommendations from previous inspections.