Distressed woman makes complaint against Portlaoise psychiatric unit
The woman said she was left standing outside the 24/7 Department of Psychiatry at Portlaoise hospital, when no one answered at 8am. File image
A DISTRESSED woman has made a complaint against Portlaoise hospital’s Department of Psychiatry (DOP), describing her experience there as “a disgrace”.
The 32-year-old, who has made suicide attempts in the past, said that she was left standing outside at 8am when no one answered, at what is supposed to be a 24/7 acute psychiatric unit.
She said: “It worries me that this might happen to someone in serious crisis, someone who is a danger to themselves or others, or maybe even to a child.”
The woman, who lives in a rural Laois area, also claimed that she was subjected to “lazy stereotyping against the Irish” when she was finally seen by a psychiatrist, two hours after her arrival at the unit.
The alleged incidents happened at the DOP in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRHP) on Monday 25 May. The woman made a complaint the following day.
She received an acknowledgement on 28 May from the Laois/Offaly Mental Health Services complaints officer, based at St Fintan’s Campus in Portlaoise, followed by confirmation that an investigation has begun.
She also sent an email to Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley on 26 May and said that she left messages with the offices of the other two Laois TDs, outlining her concerns.
Her email, which she also sent to the , stated: ‘I arrived at the hospital at 8am, believing it was a 24-hour service. If it is not 24 hours, then as a politician you need to know it absolutely should be. Vulnerable people deserve a safe, accessible 24-hour service and to be treated with dignity.’
Diagnosed with autism and bipolar disorder, the woman was a hospital inpatient in the past but is currently working and attending outpatient services.
Outlining her alleged experience at the DOP on 25 May, the woman said that, after ringing the first buzzer twice with no answer, she finally managed to gain access only because other staff let her in the main door. At the second set of doors, she again rang a buzzer and again there was no answer.
She said: “When I finally got to reception, a woman told me it was basically closed and nobody would be at the desk for an hour to get my file or call a doctor.”
The former inpatient said that, fortunately, she was not in crisis at the time but went to the unit with a query about her medication, as she was unable to get an outpatient appointment quickly.
However, she said she has serious concerns that a suicidal or otherwise vulnerable person, facing an acute mental health crisis, could have been left helplessly ringing the doorbell with no response.
She said: “I felt abandoned that morning. Nobody assessed me, triaged me or checked if I was okay. I had to just go outside and come back later. I could have been a danger to myself or others and leaving a vulnerable person unmonitored like that is a massive breach of care.”
The woman also claimed that, when she finally saw a psychiatrist at about 10am that morning, she was shocked to be asked if she was “coming from the pub”.
She said: “I was absolutely astounded. I do not drink alcohol at all because of my autism and bipolar. I am Irish living in Ireland and I feel like the psychiatrist was using lazy stereotypes against Irish people by accusing me of being in a pub, when I was actually just exhausted. Instead of clinical empathy, I faced discrimination and stereotyping.
“Our mental health services in Portlaoise are failing if people in crisis are met with locked doors, no basic triage and assumptions from medical staff.”
The woman, who does not wish to be identified, received a reply from Deputy Stanley the following day, in which he sent the woman a complaint form and said: ‘I have raised many times the shortcomings in our mental health services and will continue to do so.’
The contacted the HSE regarding the woman’s complaint. In response, the HSE Dublin and Midlands said in a statement: ‘We are not in a position to comment on individual cases. However, Midlands Mental Health will reach out directly to the service user involved to address their concerns.’
The statement added: ‘The Department of Psychiatry, MRHP, is a secure 24 hour service, over 365 days. Reception is staffed by administration staff between the hours of 8.30am and 5.30pm and support staff, including nursing staff, cover reception duties outside of these times.
‘In addition to the Department of Psychiatry, members of the public can also attend the Emergency Department at Midland Regional Hospital for crisis supports.’
Dissatisfied with the HSE response, the woman said that a busy general hospital emergency department (ED) would be completely inappropriate for people with acute mental health issues.
She said: “That is simply not good enough and could be very detrimental, not only for someone in a mental health crisis but also for other people, including children, who are waiting to be seen in the ED.”
