Psychiatric hospitals
cation e.g. by indicating the entity examining complaints and requests of the patients or organising the issues and information found in various documents and
annexes260. The documents in one of the establishments261 were particularly poor,
since apart from the abovementioned flaws, they included the information about
the patients’ rights and obligation taken from the national legislation but modified
to the detriment of the patients. As a result the patients of the hospital did not have
the right to call anyone by phone and had to clean not only their rooms but also
the area of the ward.
In the same establishment, the visiting team criticised also the application of
the internal regulations to patients detained in the enhanced security ward instead
of the organisational regulations concerning the preventive measures laid down in
the national legislation262.
6. Right to health care and therapy263
Apart from psychiatric treatment, the patients in the visited hospitals also
receive necessary help regarding their somatic condition (although in some establishments there are problems with access to certain specialists, such as a dentist or
an ophthalmologist).
The patients interviewed by the representatives of the NPM knew why they
were in hospital and what they were diagnosed with (although they not always
agreed with the diagnosis). They had access, upon request, to information about
their health and to their medical records. The majority of detained patients praised
the availability of both basis and specialist health care services
Apart from one establishment264, the visited hospitals did not apply high risk
procedures (insulin coma, atropine coma and electroconvulsive therapy).
260
Regional Forensic Psychiatry Centre in Gostynin, Voivodeship Hospital for Neurotic and Psychiatric Patients in Lubiąż.
261
Voivodeship Hospital for Neurotic and Psychiatric Patients in Lubiąż.
262
Annex 6 to the Ordinance of the Minister of Health of 10 August 2004 laying down the list of
psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities where preventive measures are to be applied, as well as on the
composition, appointment procedure and tasks of psychiatric commission for preventive measures (Dz.
U. No 179 item 1854, as amended).
263
According to the recommendations of the CPT: Psychiatric treatment should be based on an individualised approach, which implies the drawing up of a treatment plan for each patient. It should
involve a wide range of rehabilitative and therapeutic activities, including access to occupational
therapy, group therapy, individual psychotherapy, art, drama, music and sports. Patients should have
regular access to suitably-equipped recreation rooms and have the possibility to take outdoor exercise
on a daily basis; it is also desirable for them to be offered education and suitable work (§ 37 of the 8th
General Report [CPT/Inf (98)]).
264
Autonomous Public Voivodeship Hospital in Gorzów Wielkopolski
99
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