Damning report on UH K Psychiatric Unit
THE Mental Health Commission have published a damning report on conditions at one of University Hospital Kerry’s main psychiatric units.
The report states that the Reask Ward – which typically houses patients from south and west Kerry – is frequently overcrowded; is in a dilapidated condition and lacks privacy.
Serious concerns were also raised about medication management; patient privacy and staff training.
The concerns were raised in the MHC’s 2018 report on the Sliabh Mis Admission Unit at UHK, of which the Reask ward forms part.
Inspectors also found that the ward contains numerous points from which patients could potentially hang themselves.
Though MHC officials said they had previously pointed out the dangerous ‘ ligature points’ in past inspections, nothing had been done to remove them or make them safe.
“Ligature points had not been minimised to the lowest practicable level of risk on Reask ward, where numerous potential ligature points were identified.”
“Structural risks, notably multiple ligature points, had been identified in Reask ward but not removed. Mitigation included accommodating highrisk residents in Valentia ward, but residents could move between the two wards.”
Serious concerns were also raised about the standard of the unit’s seclusion room where some fittings were found to be dangerous.
“The dignity and privacy of residents in seclusion were not respected in the approved centre. Residents in seclusion had to cross the main corridor to access toilets and had to go further along the corridor to access the shower area, which was in a poor state of repair, with missing tiles and rusty pipes.’
“The seclusion room had chipped paint, chipped skirting boards, and stained windows. Furniture and fittings were not of a design and quality to ensure patient safety, and multiple hazards were observed in the seclusion room, including clear plastic covers over the lights, an exposed wall fan, and a wedge at the back of the door.”
General hygiene issues were also raised by the inspectors.
“Bathrooms were not ventilated and were stuffy and malodourous, and their floors were very worn and stained. In addition, broken tiles were observed in one bathroom.”
“Offensive odours were noted in bathrooms and in the sluice room in Reask ward, and in the sluice room in the unused Brandon ward, where bags of soiled laundry were stored while awaiting collection.”
The MHC Inspectors noted that there was no sign on of ongoing maintainence on the Reask ward.
“An appropriate maintenance reporting process was in place, but there was no evidence that a programme of general maintenance was ongoing. Repair works had not been completed, and staff mentioned that it was difficult to get issues addressed, including the replacing of stained and missing ceiling tiles and the repair and painting of skirting boards.”
Psychiatric Nurses Association Kerry representative Jamie Kelly said the report highlights the ongoing lack of investment in mental health services.
“The poor report again highlights the continuing lack of investment in both infrastructure and clinically trained staff within the mental health service in Kerry, coupled with the lack of commitment by Government and senior HSE management to priorities investment in mental health or put mental health services on a equal footing with other areas of the health services,” said Mr Kelly.
Mr Kelly acknowledged that work is underway to upgrade the entire Sliabh Mis unit and the Reask Ward in particular.
Since the report was compiled last February extensive renovation works have commenced in Sliabh Mis Admission unit.
It is expected that renovations to Reask Ward will be completed by Christmas 2018, with all renovations within the unit completed by Easter 2019.
The completion of renovations in Reask Ward will allow for the opening of Brandon suite as a High Observation four bed unit.
The HSE are currently in the process of recruiting an additional 12.5 nursing posts to allow for the opening of Brandon High Observation Unit which is expected by early 2019.