Patients in Central Mental Hospital forced to sleep in clothes due to 'extreme cold'

While complaints about the heating system in 2022 related exclusively to cold temperatures, there were a number of reports of 'dangerously warm' conditions during the first quarter of this year. Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins

The Mental Health Commission wrote to management at the new Central Mental Hospital in Portrane after it emerged patients were being forced to sleep in their clothes due to issues with the heating system at the €220m facility.

In April, records released under freedom of information legislation revealed staff had raised concerns about “extreme cold” at the hospital 25 times over a 33-day period after it opened last November.