Trust ‘failed to protect human rights’ of Downshire patients

Trust ‘failed to protect human rights’ of Downshire patients

2 June 2021

THE South Eastern Trust has been forced accused of “failing to protect the human rights of patients” at the Downshire Hospital in Downpatrick.

The organisation was criticised by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) after it carried out an inspection at the Ardglass Road facility in April and observed a “litany of harrowing failings in the care of psychiatric patients at the hospital.”

During the inspection of Ward 27, the RQIA found “inadequate and poorly maintained bathroom facilities” and a lack of “appropriate spaces where patients can avail of quiet time”.

In addition, there was limited space for patients’ personal belongings and only “single use bed rail curtains are used to support patients’ privacy and dignity”, according to the report.

The RQIA also raised concerns about the mixed model of care in place which resulted in psychiatric intensive care patients being cared for in the same place as people who require a low secure environment and rehabilitation.

And the health watchdog discovered that some patients had been living in the ward for more than 20 years and  there were “no clear plans for the discharge/resettlement in the community for 10 of the patients.”

Therapeutic interventions and community based opportunities to support patients to move from the hospital were also not being delivered.

According to the RQIA report, the health trust “failed to comply with the considered criteria by not ensuring that the individual and human rights of patients are safeguarded in Wards 27.

“The mixed model of care and the ward environment do not provide a therapeutic environment appropriate to the needs of the two distinct categories of patients being managed in the ward.”

It is understood that concerns about the environment and model of care at the Downshire were first raised in September 2015, in July 2017 and again in November the following year.

In May 2019, the health trust was summoned to a “serious concerns” meeting and told the RQIA that a decision had been taken to build a new six bedded psychiatric intensive care unit adjacent to Ward 27.

Funding for the project was confirmed by the health trust’s finance committee in July and a design team was appointed with a site visit undertaken, the RQIA has confirmed.

The watchdog said the target date for the new unit at the Downshire site was October last year but “the Covid-19 pandemic intervened” which it recognised “was outside of the trust’s control.”

The RQIA carried out a further inspection last month and found “the condition of the existing ward environment had further deteriorated” and that it failed to meet basic standards laid down by a number of expert bodies, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Health trust officials have been told that a number of improvements must be put in place, including the establishment of a psychiatric intensive care unit by 2022.

A Trust spokeswoman said the organisation has presented the RQIA with an action plan to address the concerns raised during the inspection and it has been accepted.

She said the Trust accepted the environment in Ward 27 was not suitable and that it would be better for the two categories of patient groups to have their own dedicated space. 

“The Trust has been working with the Department of Health and Health and Social Care Board for a number of years to develop a new inpatient facility which would create a suitable environment for both patient groups,” said the spokeswoman.

“Unfortunately, although these plans were well advanced, the Covid pandemic significantly delayed planning permission. Building work has now recommenced.”