contactable and we could not get any feedback on their treatment at the facility. During the visit to the rooms where the patients were accommodated, the NPM representatives noticed that most of the patients were in an uncontactable condition and quite “dizzy”, disoriented and sleepy. One of the patients was found to have facial injuries, to which we received a response that when they released her for the weekend, the patient was allegedly beaten by her daughter-in-law. During the conversation with the patients, NPM noticed that most of the patients during the visit were dressed in hospital pyjamas and that some of the patients were wearing torn and dirty pyjamas. All patients in this unit had short hair and it was stated that these patients spent most of their time lying down and were prone to lice. After inspecting the premises in this unit, the NPM team found a state of unsatisfactory level of hygiene and poor maintenance of the premises. Instead of mattresses, there were improvised sponges on the bed. Some of the beds did not have sheets, and the ones they had were dirty and torn. The pillows were old, torn and dirty. During the visit, the central heating did not work in the rooms. The floor was laid with rubberized laminate that was torn in parts, with large holes and it was almost impossible to maintain proper hygiene. Huge amounts of moisture and mould were observed in the hallways and inside the rooms. There were no cabinets in the rooms for patients to store their personal belongings. The rooms had a capacity of 5-6 beds, but there was no separate living room within the unit. The toilets were renovated, but during the visit the light in the toilets did not work. In front of the toilet, the ceiling was open and there was a hole that had not been repaired. Within this unit there is a dining room where patients consume food, and NPM during the inspection in it determined that the dining room is adequately equipped with a sufficient number of tables and chairs for all patients accommodated in this unit. During the inspection of the dining room, NPM found a cat, which entered through the windows in the dining room. NPM believes that in the rooms where the patients are accommodated, there should be no presence of animals, in order to reduce the risks of transmitting certain diseases. Unit for Working (Occupational) Therapy (Rehabilitation Centre) This unit includes a gym (fitness hall), ping-pong and rooms for occupational therapy, etc. Regarding the occupational-work part, there is one art therapist, one music therapist, one pedagogue working in the library and one cultural pedagogue. This centre can be visited by patients from all departments/units. www. ombudsman.mk 159