Report of the Human Rights Defender on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2014 3. Right to medical care Stressing that all intoxicated persons admitted to the station and released from it must be submitted to medical examination was the most important recommendation about medical care in the stations. It was further recommended that all medical personnel be in place to avoid any temporary closure of the station. All the recommendations referred to above were implemented, except for one, i.e. having all medical personnel in place. As the representatives of the NPM found during their follow-up visits that the stations lack necessary medical supplies, they recommended that needed pharmaceuticals be provided and their validity date be observed, and also appropriate diagnostic equipment be ensured. Moreover, in the course of their operations, the representatives of the NPM revealed numerous irregularities concerning medical records, complaining about their brevity and illegibility. They recommended that the records be kept accurately and legibly, as they – after all – provide information on, among others, patients’ condition and whether they need to be closely monitored. 4. Living conditions Recommendations issued by the representatives of the NPM about living conditions related in particular to improving these conditions and adjusting the stations to the needs of persons with physical disabilities. These recommendations were implemented partially, as none of the stations complied with the recommendation to adjust the facility to the needs of persons with disabilities. Another problem was adjusting the room area to legal standards. Therefore, the recommendations were reiterated. During their operations, the representatives of the NPM check in what condition a paging system is, since it makes it possible for on-site personnel to react to any adverse events that may result in a threat to health or life of patients in the establishments. Not all of the stations, despite being legally required to do so, had such a system in place. Accordingly, the representatives of the NPM recommended that the establishments be unconditionally equipped with the paging system. 5. Personnel As a result of the follow-up visits, it was necessary to make recommendations on personnel training. The representatives of the Mechanism pointed out the need for mandatory training of on-site personnel and training to improve their interpersonal skills. 66