Mental Health Commission reports full compliance on inspection of St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services
11 March 2021Three inspection reports we released this morning show that St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS) achieved full compliance in their 2020 inspections.
Commenting on the reports, Chief Executive of the MHC, John Farrelly, said: “I want to congratulate all the management and staff at the service for this result. The approved centres have been highly compliant for a number of years and this reflects the dedicated nature of all those who work there.”
St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services is made up of three approved centres; St. Patrick’s University Hospital itself, St. Edmundsbury Hospital in Lucan, Co. Dublin - which both treat adults - and Willow Grove, which is a child and adolescent mental health unit.
The Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr. Susan Finnerty, praised St. Patrick’s response to the pandemic: “2020 was a difficult year for every mental health facility and SPMHS continued to provide as many services as possible to its residents despite the onset of COVID-19.”
St. Patrick’s University Hospital is part of the St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS). It is an independent hospital located in central Dublin and is registered for up to 241 residents. The original hospital structure was built in the 18th century.
The approved centre is comprised of eight wards: Dean Swift, including Special Care Unit (acute admissions); Stella, Grattan, Delaney, and Kilroot (general admissions); Vanessa (care of the elderly); Clara (eating disorders); and Temple (addictions service). Residents are under the care of 12 consultant teams. The approved centre does not admit children.
The centre was found to be fully complaint with all regulations, as it was in 2019. The senior management team (SMT) were responsible to the board for the direct operation of the approved centre and met fortnightly. The SMT process evidenced a robust governance process with outcomes and actions documented.
There was access to a wide range of recreational activities appropriate to the resident group profile, as well as self-directed activities such as television, books, board games, outdoor gardening, and a gym. Recreational activities were provided on weekdays and weekends.
Technology mediated interventions have been developed to facilitate the provision of care programmes in the context of COVID-19 limitations, while a resident information café to reduce pre-discharge anxiety has also been developed.
St. Edmundsbury Hospital is located within extensive grounds in Lucan, Co. Dublin. It is part of St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services and shares management structures within the larger service. The approved centre consists of a refurbished 19th century Georgian house as well as modern purpose-built resident accommodation. The approved centre provides treatment for voluntary residents.
As part of a pandemic plan developed by SPMHS, St. Edmundsbury Hospital was closed to admissions in March 2020 and instead was set up to cohort residents from St. Patrick’s Hospital, with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. St. Edmundsbury hospital continued to cater for their mental health needs.
The centre was found to be fully complaint with all regulations which improved from 97% compliance in 2019. Due to pandemic events and infection control measures, there were no group activities in the approved centre at the time of the inspection. Instead, residents were provided with therapeutic programmes through video calls, on a one-to-one basis. An infection control isolation record has also been developed to assist in the management of COVID-19 related issues within the approved centre.
Willow Grove Adolescent Unit is a child and adolescent approved centre within the grounds of St. Patrick’s Hospital and forms part of St. Patrick’s Mental Health Service. The unit operates independently to the adult service; its staffing and facilities are separate. Willow Grove provides treatment to young people aged from 12 to 17 from all over Ireland. The unit has accommodation for up to 14 young people. There is a school facility attached to the unit.
Each resident had a multi-disciplinary care plan which was developed and reviewed in collaboration with the resident. The therapeutic services and programmes provided by the approved centre were appropriate and met the assessed needs of the residents as documented in their individual care plans.
Residents had access to a well-equipped gym, which included cardio equipment and weights, as well as table tennis, air hockey, a basketball court, a tennis court, musical instruments, television, movies, and a wide variety of board games.
With the onset of COVID-19, the service had developed a dedicated pandemic plan for the operational management of associated risks. This focused on operational initiatives to maintain a safe and effective service while observing public health requirements.
You can read our full statement here.
St. Patrick's University Hospital Inspection Report 2020.
