The Inspector of Mental Health Services has found that three residential centres for people with acute psychiatric difficulties did not reach acceptable standards of cleanliness and maintenance when they were visited last year.
Inspections said the units at Mercy University Hospital in Cork and St Loman's Hospital in Mullingar, Co Westmeath were not suitable for the provision of a modern mental health service.
They found that residents in seclusion at an intensive care unit in Shanakiel, Co Cork did not have access to adequate toilet and washing facilities.
The centres have a capacity for almost 90 patients.
The inspectors found the building at the 18-bed Carraig Mór intensive care unit in Shanakiel was "outdated and not suitable for a modern mental health service".
Accommodation was in small, outdated dormitories that compromised privacy and this was the third consecutive year the unit breached privacy regulations.
Privacy rules were also seriously breached at the 50-bed St Michael’s Unit at the Mercy University Hospital.
The unit's compliance with requirements had improved from 70% in 2016 to 79% in 2018. However, the approved centre had not been compliant with the regulations on privacy, premises and staffing for three consecutive years.
The commission said it will seek an update in three months to ensure that corrective and preventative plans are being implemented.
The Carraig Mór intensive care unit in Shanakiel displayed six high risk non-compliances relating to the transfer of residents, premises, use of CCTV, the maintenance of records, the use of seclusion and issues relating to admission, transfer and discharge. Ten compliances with regulations were rated as excellent.
Residents in seclusion did not have access to adequate toilet and washing facilities and current national infection control guidelines were not being followed.
Inspectors said that while there was ongoing maintenance of the unit, it was not a suitable premises to provide psychiatric intensive care.
They added that management of the unit provided corrective and preventative plans and the commission will seek an update in three months.
