Six high risk ratings in Mental Health Commission reports

The “serious effect” of lack of adequately trained staff in mental health facilities has been highlighted in a number of recent inspection reports, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) Chief Executive said today.

The MHC today published three inspection reports from approved centres in Galway, Mayo and Limerick which identified six areas of high risk non-compliance in three centres. 

“The Commission is cognisant of the continued difficulties in maintaining and increasing levels of adequately trained staff in mental health services,” said Mr John Farrelly Chief Executive of the MHC.

“Based on our inspections, we are aware of the serious effect that a lack of adequately trained staff has on the quality and quantity of services that can be provided.

“Given the labour‐intensive nature of mental health care services, it is imperative that the matter of increasing the mental health service budget to at least the percentage outlined in ‘A Vision for Change ‘be addressed if full and effective staffing of mental health teams across the country is to be achieved.”

There are 39 areas in the inspection process of approved mental health centres. Each approved centre is assessed against a series of regulations, rules, and codes of practice. Inspectors, over a three day period, use a combination of documentation review, observation and interview to assess compliance.

Dr Susan Finnerty, Inspector of Mental Health Services said “this is part of an ongoing evidence-based quality improvement approach which aims to drive improvements in practice in mental health facilities.”

The inspection reports published today focused on Tearmann Ward, St Camillus’ Hospital, Shelbourne Road, Limerick, the  Adult Mental Health Unit, Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, Co Mayo and the  Wood View, Merlin Park, Galway.

The full inspection reports can be found at https://www.mhcirl.ie/File/2019IRs/Tearmannward_IR_2019.pdf

https://www.mhcirl.ie/File/2019IRs/AMHUMayoUH_IR_2019.pdf

https://www.mhcirl.ie/File/2019IRs/WoodView_MerlinPark_IR_2019.pdf