There are 22 district psychiatric hospitals and they are monitored in a number of ways: (a) Each hospital has a visiting committee comprised of members of the health board. They visit on a monthly basis and usually so organise their visits that they cover the whole hospital in a number of months; (b) The inspector of mental hospitals carries out statutory visits once a year to each hospital and in addition he visits the hospitals from time to time to deal with specific problems; (c) Administrative and technical officers of the Department in recent years have inspected and continue to inspect hospitals in great detail in connection with the programme of up-grading conditions at the hospitals.
In recent months I have visited a number of psychiatric hospitals and have seen for myself the improvements which have been brought about. These improvements have been very significant and in many instances quite remarkable. I am satisfied, therefore, that the present arrangements for monitoring standards and practices in the psychiatric hospitals are adequate.
I have read the newspaper report referred to and also the document on which that report is based.
A report on St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, was sought by the Eastern Health Board in July 1980. The request for the report related mainly to a need for guidance on such general questions as nursing staff requirements and nurse training.
The document which was produced contained a number of allegations relating to certain actions by staff in the treatment of patients. It did not deal with the main purpose for which it was commissioned and in view of the unsubstantiated allegations which it contained it was not released to the health board. No evidence was produced to support the allegations contained in the document and the available evidence did not support them.
The document did, in fact, contain criticism of the condition of certain parts of the hospital. However, the action which was being taken before the document was produced, and has since continued, has led to considerable improvement in conditions in the hospital, particularly in relation to areas occupied by patients. Almost £1.2 million was spent on up-grading the male and female long stay blocks since 1977. In addition, £1.3 million has been spent on other improvements in the hospital and in the current year about £0.5 million will be spent on up-grading wards and corridors.