The Mental Health Commission has released its annual reviews of centres across the country.
The Mental Health Commission has released their annual reviews for three facilities in the midlands.
Compliance ratings for two mental health centres in Laois are falling, while the facility in Westmeath has improved.
The top line figures in the annual review show the Maryborough Centre in St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise achieved a compliance rating of 84%, the Department of Psychiatry, Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise is at 81%, while the Admissions Unit & St Edna's Unit, in St Loman's Hospital in Mullingar was deemed to be 89% compliant.
The facility in the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise has seen what was described as a concerning increase in non-compliance. With four of the seven areas rated as critical - the highest level of risk.
These were around staff shortages affecting therapeutic programmes, privacy issues from a lack of locks on the inside of some bedrooms, the premises failed to meet regulations around fire safety, and staff lacked appropriate training for patient needs.
The Maryborough Centre was non compliant in five areas, up from two the year previous.
The failures came from fire and patient-safety issues, and procedures around the use of mechanical and physical restraints.
While in St Loman's in Mullingar, compliance improved, with four areas noted for not meeting required regulations compared to 13 in 2023.
The Westmeath facility was deemed non-compliant around the safekeeping of personal property, patient and fire safety, and staff shortages.
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