Schooling falls short in psychiatric unit - report

Children in a psychiatric facility for young people were missing out on vital education due to a shortage of school places, the Inspector for Mental Health Services has found.

In a report on the new 20-bed child and adolescent inpatient unit at Merlin Park in Galway, inspectors said the school could only take six residents at a time.

As a result, some children attended school in the mornings, while others attended school in the afternoons.

“It was reported by two consultant psychiatrists who accompanied inspectors on this inspection that there were children currently in the approved centre who should be at school but they could not be accommodated in the school,” the report states. The school had one secondary school teacher and two primary school teachers, along with two special needs assistants.

Inspectors also noted a “total disregard” of the need to maintain good corporate governance at the facility.

Outdated policies

The report states that a majority of policies relating to care and the running of the centre were outdated and were from a previous facility for children that was no longer registered with the Mental Health Commission.

On a positive note, it said the premises were mostly bright, spacious and airy. Each resident had access to a range of therapeutic services and programmes. There was also evidence of a good standard of multidisciplinary care and treatment.

The report was one of eight reports published yesterday by the Inspector of Mental Health Services. Most of the inspections took place towards the end of 2012.

Inspectors also expressed concern at the “institutionalised” feel of some wards at St Vincent’s Hospital in Fairview, Dublin. The report states that while there were good efforts by nursing staff to provide activities and therapy for residents, the environment was highly restrictive.

Restrictions

Visiting hours were restricted to two hours in the evenings and there was a ban on mobile phones apart from two hours a day, unless special arrangement were made.

“Great efforts were made to provide multidisciplinary care but this was nearly impossible due to the appalling lack of health and social care professionals,” the report states.

The shortages meant there was a largely drug-based approach to care, with little input from health and social care professionals.

“The fact that this situation is allowed to continue is surprising in view of the commitment of the Health Service Executive to provide multidisciplinary mental health teams,” the report notes.

In a reinspection of Mayo General Hospital’s mental health unit, inspectors highlighted ongoing breaches of rules governing the use of seclusion. The report states there was documentary evidence that one patient was secluded, even though it was unclear whether it was required.