Two psychiatric units for children among seven found with 'common concerns' at inspections

The compliance rate for the Centre for Mental Health Care and Recovery, attached to Bantry General Hospital rose from 78% in 2022 to 88% in 2023. File picture: Dan Linehan

Inspections of seven inpatient psychiatric units, including two for children, found “common concerns” across all of them, with four centres failing regulations on minimising ligature hazards and two units breaching rules on mechanical restraint of patients.

Reports on the inspections, published by the Mental Health Commission, found that four of the approved centres had increased their compliance with regulations, while three units saw rates fall. The centres are based in Cavan, Dublin, Cork, Laois and Mayo.