Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/anju901

Dublin mental health centre issued with 'critical' risk rating by watchdog

The Jonathan Swift Clinic in Dublin was criticised by the Mental Health Commission.

CONDITIONS IN A Dublin mental health centre have been labelled as “critical”, according to a mental health watchdog. 

The Mental Health Commission, an independent body that regularly carries out inspections of mental health services, has criticised conditions at the Jonathan Swift Clinic at St James’s Hospital – pointing to premises that were not “kept in a good state of repair” and were not “clean” or “hygienic”. 

A critical rating is the worst rating the commission applies to risks in mental health centres. 

Across four centres inspected, inspectors issued one critical and 12 high risk ratings for non-compliance with regulations. 

Other areas in the Jonathan Swift Clinic, such as the approach to individual care plans and the administration of medicine, was also seen as high risk. 

The report, published today, was highly critical of one ward where residents found it difficult to access outdoor spaces because nurses were often not available to accompany them. 

This, the report said, “presented a serious risk to a resident’s quality of life and the therapeutic environment”. 

The commission, which spoke to nine residents during the inspection at St James’s, noted that it was aware that work was being carried out this month to improve furnishings in the clinic.

However, the report is still critical of the conditions and the approach to care and treatment in the centre. 

‘High risk ratings’ 

The Jonathan Swift Clinic was not the only centre to come in for criticism. St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin was labelled “high risk” in the areas of individual care planning and more generally the state of the premises.

The building, which is over 100 years old, “was not kept in a good state of repair”, according to the report. 

Inspectors found that rooms were not properly ventilated and old equipment had been left lying outside in a way that was “potentially hazardous”.

In terms of patient care, the inspectors noted that this was the third year in a row that the centre had failed to comply with individual care planning regulations. 

The centre, the inspectors found, had no social worker present on the team for six weeks. 

Cork

St Catherine’s Ward in St Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork was found to be “high risk” in the areas of food and nutrition, individual care planning and privacy. 

Compliance with regulations, the report said, had failed to improve since the last inspection in 2017. 

One major issue identified by the inspectors was the lack of patient privacy. 

“Residents’ privacy and dignity was not respected. Single bedrooms, did not have locks on the inside of the door. The residents could not use their bedrooms, located downstairs, from early morning until approximately 10pm at night. If a resident preferred to sleep during this time they did so in an armchair,” the report said. 

One of the best-rated centres was Cappahard Lodge in Ennis, which had 15 long-term residents. The inspection praised improvements in the clinic in recent years and found that it had over 90% compliance with regulations. 

Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, said: “Governance was identified as an issue in two centres published today and risk management issues highlighted in another approved centre. This is unacceptable.”

“Healthcare teams must be accountable for the quality, safety and satisfaction of patients in the care they deliver,” he added. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
7 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kev
    Favourite Kev
    Report
    Jan 6th 2020, 12:36 PM

    Simon Vampire Harris doesn’t want a properly funded health service. Like all Fine Gael TDs before him, he wants a new ministry. Stop letting these quite clearly bad people run our health service, we can do so much better

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Jan 6th 2020, 12:49 PM

    @Kev: in any other country this total failure Harris would have been sacked. The man is totally useless at his job, he will cost FG dearly next election.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damon16
    Favourite Damon16
    Report
    Jan 6th 2020, 7:03 PM

    @Gus Sheridan: Its the HSE that runs the health system and we are one of the biggest spenders on health in the EU. There is clearly huge mismanagement of resources and poor management of services by the HSE over many many years. Change of government will have no effect, what need is root and branch reform of the HSE. Of course the PS unions won’t have that.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Randle McMurphy
    Favourite Randle McMurphy
    Report
    Jan 6th 2020, 1:47 PM

    Our mental health services are an absolute disgrace.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean May
    Favourite Sean May
    Report
    Jan 6th 2020, 3:00 PM

    @Randle McMurphy: You’re not wrong on that score, Randle. The entire so-called ‘Mental Health Services’ should be labelled as Critical. Remember that patronising TV and radio advert the HSE brought out some time back? The one with the guy telling people who are suffering to “Just do Something, because if you do something you’ll feel better”? Millions of euros in their budget and the best these muppets can do is to produce that kind of nonsense. A pity they couldn’t follow their own advice and “Just do something”.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
    Favourite Paul O'Sullivan
    Report
    Jan 6th 2020, 12:59 PM

    We all remember the criticism Fine Gael gave to FF/PDs when they were in goverment. Now they have had their chance the HSE is in a worse condition.

    Homelessness now at an all time high.

    Simon Harris, Eoghsn Murphy, Leo Varsdker should be ashamed of themselves

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Anderson
    Favourite Fiona Anderson
    Report
    Jan 6th 2020, 5:04 PM

    Most facilities countrywide are openly flouting regulations, rules, consent to treatment &codes of practice year in year out &continually non compliant with risk ratings &violating the most basic human rights &the MHC needs to step up to the plate enforcing the regulations.

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds