The department of psychiatry at Roscommon University Hospital is one of a number of approved centres criticised following inspections carried out last year by the Mental Health Commission (MHC).
Of 10 approved centres inspected, just one, the Tearmann Ward at St Camillus’ Hospital, Co Limerick, was found to be completely compliant with the relevant rules, regulations and codes of practice.
Three others – Creagh Suite, Co Galway, Cappahard Lodge, Co Clare and the Acute Psychiatric Unit, Cavan General Hospital – were all assessed as being more than 90 per cent compliant.
The report on the Roscommon department of psychiatry, a 24-bed unit that had 22 patients at the time of the inspection, found it was non-compliant with minimum standards in nine areas of the regulations, rules and codes of practice.
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“A particular area of concern was the rules governing the use of seclusion which was found to be critical,” the authors of the report said.
“The remaining eight areas of concern, represent a number of ongoing, year on year non-compliances with minimum standards, particularly in the regulations relating to premises, privacy, individual care plans and staffing.”
It was reported that management and staff were working to address issues and “some improvements” had been achieved in areas like food safety, therapeutic services and complaints management.
Overall, however, the centre was assessed as 72 per cent compliant last year, compared to 73 per cent in 2024 and 88 per three years previously.
Examples of good practice seen during the inspections included a sensory room for residents established at Tearmann Ward, St Camillus’ Hospital and a virtual reality headset which provided simulated experiences that were individualised based on residents’ known preferences, such as outdoor activity or sports, at Creagh Suite in Ballinasloe. Another example of good practice was individual sensory programmes developed for residents unable to attend group activities at O’Casey Rooms, Fairview Community Unit in Dublin.
In addition to the issues raised in relation to Roscommon issues of noncompliance were highlighted at a number of facilities.
At Grangemore Ward, St Otteran’s Hospital, Co Waterford, one “critical-risk noncompliance” with the regulation on premises was identified. There was also “high-risk” noncompliance in relation to privacy, the ordering, prescribing, storing and administration of medicines and staffing.Risk management procedures were also identified.
High-risk non-compliances with the regulations on therapeutic services, premises, medication; staffing; and risk management procedures at St Bridget’s Ward and St Marie Goretti’s Ward, Cluain Lir Care Centre, Co Westmeath were also identified.
The other centres inspected were St Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview, where compliance with the rules, regulations, and codes of practice was put at 88 per cent and Maryborough Centre, St Fintan’s Hospital, Co Laois, where it was put at 84 per cent.
