Implementation of the Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2012 It was pointed out in both hospitals that all patients should have comparable living conditions. As a result, it was believed that Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital should ensure that everywhere there was a possibility to store a patient’s personal belongings and clothes, including for the temporary beds. Such storage is made possible with a bedside table and a closet, whilst a bedside lamp provides a patient with the option of evening reading and especially enables movement by night (for example, a visit to the toilet). Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital strives to assure equal living conditions for all patients. It was explained, however, that, in the case of temporary beds, it is not possible to set bedside tables and lamps for all patients. They had tried not to have too many such cases. The average rate of hospitalization at the secure in-patient ward is 3,5 days. Patients were supposedly accommodated on an additional, temporary bed just for a short period of time (a day or two). The rearrangement of rooms by reducing the number of beds in a room is in fact dependant on the current financial condition of the hospital mentioned and technical capabilities. It was also communicated that more time was needed for construction developments as well as relevant permissions and that they would strive to find suitable solutions. Communal rooms and patient rooms in Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital appeared to be impersonal, considering the findings by the NPM, there were no paintings and (with rare exceptions) no personal belongings. According to the NPM’s assessment, rooms might be arranged in a more home-like and friendly way (for example, by hanging posters, by applying paintings directly to the wall, by using photo-wallpaper). This also holds true for departments I1 at the Intensive Psychiatry Unit, G1 and G2 at the Gerontopsychiatric Unit, and the department I3 at the Intensive Therapy Unit in Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital. The management of the above mentioned hospital communicated that paintings would be placed in the communal rooms by fixing them firmly to the walls. Patients took many photographs (for therapeutic purposes) and these would also be put on walls. (Empty) rooms were locked at the time of the inspection carried out by the NPM in the Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital in the morning. It was proposed that during that time an individual patient be enabled by the hospital to rest if that is needed, as well as to access personal belongings. It was also proposed that the staff be more committed to making patients be involved in daily activities. In the light of these proposals, Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital explained that rooms would not be locked any longer, except during daily activities, and in exceptional cases (when more agitated and suicidal patients are present on the ward). The recommendation was perhaps misunderstood by the above mentioned hospital. The critique made by the NPM was in fact (also) directed at an unthinking locking of all rooms during daily activities. Attention was particularly drawn to the fact that it would be appropriate to try, in a more committed manner, to make patients more interested in order to take part in daily activities. On the other hand, it was not seen as appropriate to prevent those patients not taking part in daily activities, to enter their rooms. As observed during the visit, these patients, as matter of fact, sit down and lie on benches in the corridor. It was proposed by the NPM that showering at the female secure in-patient ward should no longer be limited to the time between 7 and 8 a.m. The management of the hospital in question believed that access to bathrooms could be limited when suicidal patients are present on the ward, whilst, in bathrooms, showering and washing is limited only in cases of those patients for whom excessive showering is a consequence of some psychopathological experience. Ljubljana University psychiatric Hospital confirmed that potential limitations of access to bathrooms would be carefully monitored in the future. It was proposed that Vojnik Psychiatric Hospital examine the option of arranging for a special – psychogeriatric unit since the needs of senior patients with dementia are different to the needs of younger patients. National Preventive Mechanism in the Republic of Slovenia under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 57