Bantry centre praised for renovations, but still faces issues

While a Mental Health Commission report into a residential centre in Bantry has praised recent renovations to the premises, issues around bedroom size, food safety, and CCTV cameras were still identified.

The Centre for Mental Health Care and Recovery (CMHC&R) was marked 81% compliant in a recent inspection.

The centre located on the grounds of Bantry General Hospital was registered for 18 beds, but reduced to 15 following the application of a Condition of Registration.

“In direct response, and with significant funding approval, CMHC&R closed in October 2023 to undertake extensive renovations, reopening with completion of works in July 2024,” read the MHC report. “The inspection team were greeted to an exceptionally high standard of internal renovations, delicately achieving the balance between person-centred therapeutic space and safety for residents, visitors, and staff.

“However, the CMHC&R was restricted from undertaking internal expansion due to external structural limitations.”

They explained that the centre still could not provide adequate bedroom space in the larger shared rooms to meet resident needs.

A number of resident bedrooms were too small and cramped to fit the number of residents accommodated in them.

While residents had at least two choices for meals, they were not always offered portions from different food groups, as per the Food Pyramid, with no fruit available.

“While the daytime meal was of a good nutritional standard, the evening meal, at times, lacked variety: chips, although nutritious, were provided nearly every day at evening time,” the report noted.

Adequate arrangements were not in place for residents to access general health services and for their referral to other health services.

Two residents had unmet needs for the services of a dietitian, and there was no documented proof to indicate that these two residents received a referral to a dietitian at the time of the inspection.

Additionally, there was no clear signage or labelling to show or signpost where CCTV cameras were located, meaning the use of CCTV was not sufficiently disclosed to the residents.

The provider assured MHC that they were aware of the bedroom size issue and that the centre operated at an average of 75% capacity to avoid issues.

“Bed space and patient placement is actively managed to maximise the patient space available at the time of admission to the unit.”

They also added that fruit was now available, it had undertaken a food satisfaction survey for patients and would conduct these quarterly, CCTV signage was in place and a clinical specialist dietician post has been approved and going through the recruitment process.