Mind Cymru urges Welsh Government to “take the lead” in improving care for mental health inpatients
A report launched by Mind Cymru today raises concerns around mental health inpatient care and safety, alongside poor data collection, in Wales.
In its ‘Raising the Standard’ report, the charity highlights a struggling workforce, with 13 of 18 hospitals between 2022-23 noting problems stemming from staff shortages, negatively impacting those in their care.
Drawing on patient experiences of care as well as Freedom of Information Request information and inspectorate reports, Raising the Standard sets out several areas that need to be improved. These include a stronger commitment to collecting and publishing data, particularly of race and other protected characteristics, to better understand and tackle inequality and discrimination.
Additionally, the report highlights the need to follow restrictive practice guidance to limit harm to patients, and introduce the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018, otherwise known as ‘Seni's Law’ to Wales. Currently in place in England, the act aims to protect mental health patients from disproportionate and inappropriate use of force in mental health units.
Francesca Murphy, 27, from Pembrokeshire was subject to multiple facedown restraints and pharmacological restraints as an inpatient in a Welsh hospital.
"Restraint should never be used as a first port of call. I don't think it's right that before speaking to me or trying to deescalate the situation, I had 4 grown adults grab all 4 limbs and pin me to the ground. My mental health problems stem from a sailing accident I had when I was a teenager. Even though the staff knew this, they still used facedown restraint on me which meant grabbing my ankles. This would trigger old memories and sometime make me more unwell.
"And with medical sedation, having no say and having drugs injected into me without anyone even attempting to have a conversation or an alternative way to calm the situation was awful. I was just left in a room completely by myself - there was no follow up on some of these whatsoever. I was just dragged to my room and left there.
"I feel like only 1 time in 10 the restraint was necessary, especially as I am not a very big person.”
Survey responses in the report also suggest that only 52% of people in Wales feel that a friend or family member would be safe in hospital if they were admitted for their mental health. Additionally, 69% of those surveyed felt the government should be doing more to protect patients in mental health hospitals from unsafe care and abuse.
Alex, 37, who lives with schizophrenia describes how an environment where dignity and respect are prioritised can powerfully contribute to recovery. Reflecting on her recent experiences compared to previous hospitals, she says:
“In comparison, the general culture at this hospital is one of patience, kindness, empathy, compassion and dignity. A lot of staff have lived experience of mental health problems and they are open about them. It makes me feel like we’re all equal – that what happened to me could happen to anyone. They will wait to the very last moment to put hands on. This hospital has made me well. My mum said she ‘has her daughter back’.
Sue O'Leary, Director of Mind Cymru said:
“Welsh Government has the chance to take the lead in caring for and protecting people who need inpatient mental health support. This report is centred around the voices of people who have experienced first-hand the ways in which inpatient care can help, but can also be dangerously inadequate and lacking in dignity and respect.
“The rising tide of mental health need in Wales is significant, but we need more transparent data to understand people’s experiences of care, otherwise we’ll never be able to fully address the problems. Increasing staffing, updating the Mental Health Act code of practice for Wales, and protecting patient safety and rights will all go a long way to help.
“It has been positive to see that the draft mental health strategy includes a commitment to NHS Wales developing a patient safety programme and this cannot happen soon enough and must involve a diverse range of people with lived experience of inpatient units in Wales.”
A copy of the Raising the Standard Report is available on the Mind website (www.mind.org.uk)
