Critical risk rating at Waterford University Hospital as psychiatric patient left in corridor for six days

A female psychiatric patient was left for six days on a bed in a corridor in Waterford University Hospital, a new report claims.

An inspection report by the Mental Health Commission (MHC) found the 44-bed Department of Psychiatry in the hospital had a risk rating of “critical” in respect of five areas of compliance.

On the first day of inspection last May, the team noted a serious incident where two female residents were accommodated in beds on the corridor of the acute area of the ward.

The report noted that these residents were “on full view” to all residents, visitors, and staff in the acute area and no provision was made for safeguarding their privacy in terms of placing screens around the beds.

One of the women had been accommodated in this manner for the previous six days, the report noted.

Following discussion between the inspection team and senior nursing staff, staff were able to re-configure bedroom areas and accommodate both women in rooms.

The MHC inspection team also noted a number of residents were observed to be dressed in hospital ‘scrubs’ as night attire “which did not respect their dignity”.

In the seclusion room, a door between the room and the lavatory had been taken off its hinges by a resident in the week before the inspection and, as a result, there were blind spots in the room where the resident could not be viewed at all times.

The inspection team also expressed concern that electrical wires might be accessible above the ceiling which had appeared to have been damaged by a resident.

The MHC also took issue with the fact a resident had the administration of medication continued without consent, despite the treating consultant psychiatrist certifying that the patient had the capacity to do so.