Report of the CHR on the Activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland
it as early as in 2012. Other recommendations concerned the absolute compliance with the
rules governing the application of coercive measures (immobilization) specified in the ordinance on direct coercive measures. This recommendation was not implemented fully. While
inspecting the wards, the visiting team noticed that screens were used for the patients, but
only on the side of the room entrance. Moreover, one-patient rooms were not always used for
immobilization purposes, which would ensure full privacy to them. An additional psychiatrist to support the shifts was not hired. According to the information provided by the chief
doctor, the admissions room are still staffed by one doctor, but they are supported by another
doctor on call. In the ward that offers enhanced security, the standard ratio of staff members
to patients (2:1) has not steep met. Hiring new persons (including a doctor as of July 2015)
did not secure the needs of the ward in this respect. According to the information provided
to the visiting team by a ward nurse, the ratio is 1:1 (54 employees for 55 beds at the ward).
The hospital structure also does not contain a room for visiting with children, which was
requested by the representatives of NPM in 2012. According to the information provided by
the chief doctor, the patients may meet their loved ones outside the ward. However, it must
be noted that the only place that can be used for this purpose is the patients’ club. However,
this option is not available to persons who do not have the ‘free movement’ permit.
c. National Centre for Preventing Dissocial Behaviours in Gostynin
Another reinspection took place at the National Centre for Preventing Dissocial Behaviours in Gostynin (hereinafter: NCPDB). On 22 July 2015 the deadline for adapting NCPDB
to the requirements of the ordinance of the Minister of Health dated 16 January 2014 on the
National Centre for Preventing Dissocial Behaviours (hereinafter: ordinance on NCPDB).
The visiting team assessed the conditions offered to the patients as very good. NCPDB has
e.g. patient rooms, a day room, a canteen, therapy rooms, a treatment room, a monitored
room for the purposes of coercive measures. Each patient room is furnished in a similar
way, e.g. with a bed, table, chair, high and low cabinet – locked. The doors to patient rooms
are open 24/7, Doubts of the visiting team were raised by the organization of two-patient
rooms, whereas, in line with Article 3(1) of the ordinance on NCPDB the patient rooms
should be one-patient rooms. As it was determined by the representatives of NPM, this situation is due to the fact that there are insufficient rooms compared to the number of patients.
The facility has 10 rooms for one patient, and the facility had the capacity of 20 patients on
the inspection date. It must be emphasized that the maximum number of beds according
to the aforementioned ordinance is 60. Moreover, two-patient rooms were furnished with
bunk beds, which is contrary to Article 3(3)(2) of the aforementioned ordinance. Considering the contents of that Article, the beds in patient rooms should be accessible from three
sides, including from two longer sides, and should enable applying direct coercive measures
in the form of isolation and using immobilizing belts or a straitjacket. Considering the
above, the visiting believes that it is still necessary to adapt the rooms at the facility to the
contents of the ordinance on NCPDB.
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