BackMr Boshier today tabled his four reports in Parliament on the Hamilton mental health facility, following unannounced inspections in September 2019.
The inspections focussed on Wards 34, 35, 36, and the Awhi-rua, Puna Maatai and Puna Poipoi wards which provide a range of sub-acute, acute, forensic, and rehabilitative, inpatient mental health services for 88 adults from the Waikato, Lakes, Taranaki, and Bay of Plenty regions.
Mr Boshier says he is aware the government has announced funding of $100 million to replace the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre and that the new facility is due to open in 2023.
“In the meantime, the treatment and conditions of service users in three out of the four wards I inspected was degrading and the result of overcrowding. It breached Article 16 of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. I believe the current situation at the acute mental health service (Wards 34, 35, 36) is untenable. At the time of inspection, the three wards were at 130 percent capacity. Inappropriate placements of service users, high use of seclusion and restraint, lack of privacy, blanket restrictions, compromised care, and limited opportunity for recovery are indicators of a facility in crisis”, Mr Boshier said.
In Puna Maatai Forensic Inpatient Ward, there had been a significant increase in the use of seclusion in recent years, particularly for Māori service users.
“There were discrepancies in the collection and reporting of seclusion and restraint data, training on the use of mechanical restraints did not appear to comply with policy, and the relevant restraint policies themselves were out of date. I consider that the ward should guard against treating the use of mechanical restraint as normal practice by regularly monitoring and reviewing its use,” the Chief Ombudsman further underlines.
In Puna Awhi-rua, Inspectors found evidence of a service user placed in seclusion for 16 weeks following an assault on a staff member. The records however did not support the prolonged period of seclusion and, in these circumstances, was degrading treatment.
Mr Boshier is also concerned at the regular use of a practice described by staff as ‘sleepovers’. This is where people were transferred from one ward to another to relieve pressure on staffing or space. Inspectors observed service users on sleepovers in wards for days at a time because acute wards were too full. They saw communal areas, day rooms and offices being used as bedrooms. “Installing curtains and partial walls in the shared bedrooms of Wards 34, 35, and 36, did not provide enough privacy, and service users also reported not feeling safe,” says Mr Boshier.
Staff burnout is also a concern on Puna Maatai, due to over-crowding, lack of resources, and the high and complex needs of service users from the courts and prisons, and service users with intellectual disabilities.
Mr Boshier says there are plans to address overcrowding, and reduce the use of seclusion and restraint. “However, I’ve had to repeat recommendations made during earlier inspections which is of concern.”
While other wards were generally clean and tidy, he says the Puna Poipoi Forensic Rehabilitation Ward was not fit-for-purpose: bedrooms were small with inadequate storage and no ventilation, and there weren’t enough showers and toilets.
“While I am pleased to hear that the DHB is taking steps to address a number of identified issues, my role is to report on the conditions and treatment for people who are being detained, as they were at the time of the inspection.”
Source: Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, New Zealand
