Inspector condemns “substandard” psychiatric hospitals in Ireland

The inspector of mental hospitals in the Republic of Ireland has strongly criticised the substandard condition of some of the country's long stay psychiatric accommodation. Dr Dermot Walsh's annual report highlights unacceptable conditions in specific institutions—including some patients having to share underwear and endure broken toilets and cold food. It also notes that it is “totally unacceptable” that as many as 300 inpatients with learning disabilities currently share such facilities with seriously ill psychiatric cases.

In the report the inspector noted that he had identified many of the problems before, with little effect—routine overcrowding, peeling walls, antiquated furnishings, and little or no recreational or rehabilitation facilities. Among his new findings are a shortage of psychiatric …