Irish psychiatric wards deemed “unfit for human habitation” – patients found abused, mistreated, electroshocked

Irish health inspectors have uncovered evidence of bad management and untrained medical staff administering electric shock therapy to patients in psychiatric wards around the country. Many of Ireland’s psychiatric wards may be closed as they are “unfit for human habitation.”

Donal Thornton
IrishCentral.com
December 28, 2009

Irish state health inspectors have warned that many of Ireland’s psychiatric wards may be closed as they are “unfit for human habitation.” Irish health inspectors have uncovered evidence of bad management and untrained medical staff administering electric shock therapy to patients in psychiatric wards around the country.

The results of the inspectors findings were revealed in a report by the Inspectorate of Mental Health Services. The Irish state caters for over 2,700 patients in its 63 psychiatric institutions.

Practically all of the bad reports were confined to Victorian era health wards that the authorities have been waiting to close for the last 20 years.

Inspectors reported seeing patients wandering “aimlessly” around St. Brendan’s psychiatric ward in Dublin and were concerned that patients were been accommodated in “unsuitable” conditions.

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