A mental health centre was borrowing money from residents to give to others without their permission to make up shortfalls, a damning report has found.
The Mental Health Commission, which is an independent statutory body, discovered it was happening at Woodview, a single-storey mental health facility, located on the campus of Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway following a probe.
They have since imposed a critical rating on the facility, which supports an aging cohort, while also providing mental health rehabilitation and recovery for residents awaiting community rehabilitation placements.
Read More: Ireland's private nursing homes should be run by State or not-for-profit organisations, says TD
Each centre is obligated by law to safe-keep all personal property and possessions and must keep accurate records by law.
The Commission was assured by the chief executive that the money has been returned to the residents in full.
Mental Health Commission Chief Executive John Farrelly said: “In the case of this centre, some residents were unaware that their money was being used for other purposes and this is a clear and serious breach of the regulation on personal property and possessions.
“It is unacceptable to take advantage of residents in this way; it is a clear denial of a basic human right. For this non-compliance, we had no choice but to impose a critical risk rating.
“Since the inspection, we have been assured by the centre that the money has been returned and improved arrangements are now in place to safeguard residents’ property.
“However, we will continue to require assurances from the centre in this regard.”
The inspectors, who carried out their probe during the Covid-19 pandemic, also found that secure facilities were not provided for the safe-keeping of residents’ monies, in violation of the centre’s personal property and possessions policy.
A Mental Health Commission spokesman added: “Following this critical finding, the MHC required the HSE to take specific actions and provide assurances that residents’ property and possessions were safe and that there were appropriate oversight and review mechanisms in place to monitor the finances of all residents in the centre.
“The MHC has since been provided with assurances that improved arrangements are now in place which include arrangements for notifying An Garda Síochána, as appropriate, should any future concerns be identified.”
The centre was also slapped with high-risk ratings for non-compliance because of failures to develop, monitor and, fill out care plans properly.
In addition, the centre also received a high-risk rating for the regulation on therapeutic services and programmes.
They concluded that the services and programmes provided by the centre were not appropriate and did not meet the assessed needs of the residents.
Inspectors issued another high-risk rating because radiators were not suitably guarded, the outside area was littered with cigarette butts, rubbish, a walking aid and a sweeping brush while hazards were not minimised as fire doors were kept open with stoppers, and a chair.
READ NEXT:
Bank of Ireland fined over €100m by Central Bank for tracker mortgage breaches
Cyber security experts reveal 10 worrying signs that hackers are spying on your phone
Conor McGregor's Black Forge Inn pub pays tribute to Coolio following rap legend's death
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
