HSE hits out at probes of deaths at centres

Half of all unexplained deaths in community mental health centres do not undergo adequate investigations into whether system flaws contributed to the tragedies.

The finding, which follows claims that people are needlessly dying by suicide after being sent home early by overstretched services, has been made by two HSE audits into the sector.

Documents obtained by Irishhealth.com show that despite HSE and Government insistence there are no problems in the service, the HSE’s own audit team found serious shortcomings — lending further weight to staff concerns vulnerable people’s lives are being put at risk.