Failing mental health in-patient facilities must close on foot of damning report - IMHC

14th May 2009

The Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) has expressed alarm at the sustained lack of improvement in mental health services, after the mental Health Commission today (14/05/09) released another highly critical annual report.

The Commission’s report listed a string of failings at a number of in—patient facilities. The conditions highlighted, including high use of medication, the ‘neo-warehousing’ of long-stay patients in smaller institutions, lack of privacy, and inadequate physical environments, breach
the most basic human rights of people using these services. The IMHC calls for the closure of failing in-patient facilities. John Saunders, Chair of the IMHC said: “We need to ensure the full powers available to the Mental Health Commission are now used to compel the
closure of sub-standard facilities unless and until they meet minimum standards of treatment and care. It has the statutory powers and duties to threaten to close the facilities that it says are failing. A clear programme towards closure must be put in place, with timelines and resources. Crucially, in order for this to happen, Government needs to invest in more appropriate facilities as a matter of urgency.”

The Commission’s report provides an insight into just how inadequate mental health services are at every level.  The absence of professional teams and therapeutic services mean service users simply are not getting basic treatment and services.

“The report is a record of the persistent neglect of persons using mental health services, and intolerably slow progress towards reform. Many of the same criticisms are being highlighted year after year by the Commission. The IMHC calls on the HSE to immediately appoint a Director of Mental Health to take responsibility for leading the reforms of mental health services which are long overdue, ” added Mr Saunders.

John Saunders, Chair of the IMHC, said: “The IMHC is also concerned at the HSE’s press response today. It suggests that its A Vision for Change implementation plan for 2009 -2013 will address these failings, where 3 years into A Vision for Change, there has been little or no progress. The HSE plan fails internationally recognised standards for what an implementation plan should contain. Its lack of specifics on what it will achieve and when means we have little confidence that we will not be seeing the same catalogue of poor services next year.”

Among the issues raised in the report for 2008 were:

  • Cost neutral proposals for care plans that integrate medical and non-medical treatment are still yet to be implemented across the country
  • There is a sustained lack of improvement in services since the launch of the government’s flagship policy on mental health, A Vision for Change
  • Children are still being admitted to adult psychiatric facilities
  • Services are still being provided in buildings that are vastly below the standards required
  • Specialised services, for example for children and adolescents and eating disorder clinics, are only patchily available outside of Dublin

As the Commission’s report clearly shows, policy alone is not working, the IMHC believes that legislation is now needed to guarantee that the dignity of service users is preserved and that their fundamental rights are protected. On Monday 18 May 2009, the IMHC is hosting a conference to investigate what new legislation might look like.


Notes for editors:
The Mental Health Commission’s Inspector of Mental Health Services reviews mental health services across the country on an annual basis. Every facility receives a separate and detailed report, before today’s summary report is made publicly available.

Under Section 64 of the Mental Health Act 2001, the Commission can remove a centre for mental health care and treatment from the register of "approved centres" if either the premises or the carrying on of the approved centre does not comply with the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centres) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No.551 of 2006). Where the Commission proposes to
remove a centre from the register, it is required to notify that centre in writing of its proposal and the reasons for it. The centre may, within 21 days of receipt of such notification, make representations in writing to the Commission which the Commission must then take into consideration before making its decision. Where the Commission decides to remove a centre from the register, the centre may appeal that decision to the District Court within 21 days of receipt of notification of the decision.

About the Irish Mental Health Coalition:

The   Irish  Mental  Health  Coalition  comprises  a  Core  Group  of  five organisations  that  have  combined  forces  and  energies  to advocate for people’s  rights  to  the  highest attainable standard of mental health and mental healthcare.

IMHC Core Group Member organisations:

  Amnesty International (Irish Section)
  Bodywhys – The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland
  GROW in Ireland
  Irish Advocacy Network
  Shine