Reports reveal 'a breach of human rights' at five inspected mental health units

John Farrelly, CEO of the Mental Health Commission, said none of the five centres were compliant with premises regulations. File picture: Jason Clarke

Mental health patients in five residential centres, including in Cork and Tipperary, cannot get access to vital therapies in a failing described as “a breach of human rights” by the Mental Health Commission.

Reports highlighted “cobwebs, dirty floors, stained and worn chairs, ripped and scuffed linoleum floorings” in these buildings. Inspectors also found potential ligature points not fully removed, including at the Acute Mental Health Unit at Cork University Hospital.

The unit was non-compliant with 14 standards and the report notes management showed “little engagement” on some issues. It was previously requested to provide a plan addressing long-standing concerns. Despite this, compliance decreased from 79% in 2022 to 58% this year.

Inspectors said it was “not clean and hygienic”, finding dirty floors and graffiti as well as rotting wooden garden furniture. While inspectors found a wide range of mental health therapies available, they said therapies were “not directed towards restoring and maintaining optimal levels of physical functioning”.

Inspectors advised better access for this while noting good access to cancer screening.

St Catherine's Ward at St Finbarr’s Hospital was not compliant with seven regulations for a rating of 77%.

It was found two residents refused physical health assessments and a way around this was not identified. Annual assessments of residents on anti-psychotic medication were done. 

Concerns around low ligature points were also identified, with inspectors finding several in bedrooms. The unit was clean but in poor repair with windows which cannot be closed.

Haywood Lodge in Clonmel was found non-compliant with six standards. This included insufficient “numbers and skill mix of staff" for residents. The indoors was clean, but inspectors raised concerns about outdoor access to potential ligature points.

Gary Kiernan, director of regulation, said lack of access to psychology, dietetics and occupational health is of “particular concern”.

Gary Kiernan, director of regulation, said lack of access to psychology, dietetics and occupational health is of “particular concern”.

“Unfortunately, we noted in some centres that not all residents’ physical and psychosocial health needs were being met,” he said.

“We know that people with a mental illness will typically die between 15 and 20 years earlier than someone without a mental illness so it is absolutely essential that service providers ensure ready access to essential healthcare services.” 

He warned denying this to patients is a “ breach of human rights”. 

John Farrelly, CEO of the Mental Health Commission, said none of the five centres were compliant with premises regulations. 

“It was particularly concerning to note that across all centres, ligature points were not minimised to the lowest practicable level based on risk assessment," he said. 

“Apart from that, the presence of cobwebs, dirty floors, stained and worn chairs, ripped and scuffed linoleum floorings and the fact that three bedrooms required a full refurbishment is not acceptable.”