Regulators critical of mental health facilities at Merlin Park

Two mental health facilities in Galway were given an almost clean bill of health in recent inspections by the regulators.

The Mental Health Commission found that Woodview – a 16-bed residential unit at Merlin Park Hospital catering mainly for elderly long-stay patients – has improved its compliance with the regulations by over a quarter to 97 per cent.

There were two areas where the centre fell down. There was a strong bad smell from two separate toilets and not all radiators were guarded and were found to be excessively hot. Both of these breached the requirement to have an adequate maintenance programme.

The centre also did not have access to a psychologist during a previous inspection. This has been addressed by the provision of a temporary psychology service when inspected last March.

The second inspection took place at the Child & Adolescent Mental Health In-patient Unit, a 20-bed inpatient unit for youths at Merlin Park.

It was also found to have a 97 per cent compliance rate, the same as the previous year.

Its single failing was in providing more modern and safer seclusion facilities.

On instruction from the Commission, the centre had developed and approved “a costed, funded and time bound plan to replace the current seclusion facilities” but so far this had not been built.

“Residents in seclusion did not have access to adequate toilet and washing facilities. The washroom located closest to the seclusion room was not directly accessible and it did not have a shower unit. For this reason, residents in seclusion had to access the toilet by going to the main ward area which meant their privacy and dignity was not appropriately respected. The floor in the seclusion room was not padded and was made of a hard floor fitting, which was a risk to resident safety,” the report stated.

The inspector praised the introduction of new therapeutic groups such as a social club group which helped patients with eating disorders.

Despite the high levels of compliance in both facilities, the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, said he was disappointed by the failings.

“It was very clear from the reports that certain parts of two centres were nowhere close to the standard that we would deem acceptable. Weaknesses such as offensive odours, excessively hot radiators and residents in seclusion not having suitable access to toilet and washing facilities is simply not good enough and will never go unchecked or without comment under our watch.”