compulsory psychiatric care 70 Compulsory psychiatric care Care in accordance with the Compulsory Psychiatric Care Act (1991:1128) and the Forensic Mental Care Act (1991:1129) are conducted in Sweden almost exclusively on a regional basis. At the end of 2019, there were estimated to be at least 80 care facilities operating pursuant to the Compulsory Psychiatric Care Act and the Forensic Mental Care Act with approximately 4,000 places in total. At these institutions, individuals are cared for who, inter alia, are subject to compulsory psychiatric care or have been sentenced to forensic psychiatric care. There can also be patients cared for at these facilities voluntarily in accordance with the Health and Medical Services Act (2017:30). In 2019, the OPCAT Unit conducted three inspections of care facilities that provide care in accordance with the Compulsory Psychiatric Care Act and the Forensic Mental Care Act. All of these were inspected for the first time by the Parliamentary Ombudsmen and were announced. All the inspections were carried out by or took place on behalf of Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman Elisabeth Rynning. She also made statements following the inspections and decided on the cases where a response was requested.1 Two more inspections of similar care facilities were carried out by the supervisory division. 6.1 Observations made during this year’s inspections During the inspections of the psychiatric care facilities, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s employees highlighted issues concerning, inter alia, the institutions’ possibilities to provide adequate and safe care, the staff ’s use of coercive measures and the patients’ access to electronic communication services. The possibility to provide good and safe care Health and medical care work must be carried out so that the requirements for good care are met. This means that the care must specifically cater to, inter alia, the patients’ needs for security, continuity and safety, and that it must be based on respect for patients’ self-determination and integrity.2 Where health and medical care work is carried out, there must be the staff, premises and equipment needed for providing good care.3 Care in accordance with 1 Stockholm Forensic Psychiatry Care, Section South (Helix), Sahlgrenska University Hospital’s Emergency Psychiatric Unit at Östra Hospital and Växjö Regional Forensic Psychiatric Clinic. 2 See Chapter 5, Section 1, 2 and 3 of the Health and Medical Services Act (2017:30). 3 See Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Health and Medical Services Act (2017:30).