Report of the Human Rights Defender on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2012
Apart from one hospital265, where treatment with rispolept consta was not
initiated because it was considered too expensive, the representatives of the NPM
did not find any limitations on access to medications for patients, including newgeneration psychotropic drugs and other medications.
The analysis of medical records provided to the representatives of the NPM
showed that in five visited establishments266 the records were kept inappropriately267. In the opinion of the visiting team, the flaws may translate into inappropriate
treatment of patients and their prolonged stay in hospital under detention.
Another irregularity found in the majority of visited establishment is the failure to develop multi-profile therapeutic plans taking into account the diagnosis of
mental and somatic condition and psychosocial functioning and to establish the
corresponding therapies. In a part of establishments, individual therapeutic plans
for detained patients are not drawn up at all268 or a systematic individual therapy
is not conducted269.
In some wards for detained patients, the community meetings, group forms
of psychotherapy, psychoeducation, life and social skills training are not organised.
The employees of the NPM are of the opinion that efficient treatment of patients
cannot consists of pharmacotherapy alone, but requires a wide range of activities
preparing the patients to perform their social roles.
Apart from one hospital270, the visited psychiatric wards did not have a coherent, comprehensive therapeutic programme, covering all types of therapies and all
Public Health Care Centre in Łuków
Voivodeship Hospital for Neurotic and Psychiatric Patients in Lubiąż, Public Health Care Centre in
Łuków, Voivodeship Psychiatric Hospital in Olsztyn, Dr Józef Babiński Specialist Psychiatric Hospital
Health Care Centre in Łódź, Voivodeship Psychiatric Hospital in Warta.
267
Cf. Ordinance of the Minister of Health of 21 December 2010 on the types and scope of medical
records and their processing (Dz. U. No 252, item 1697)
268
Pursuant to Article 202 of the Executive Penal Code, an offender subject to a preventive measure shall
undergo appropriate treatment, therapy, rehabilitation and resocialisation aimed at improving his health
and behaviour to the extend enabling him to function in the society and to undergo further treatment
outside the establishment. 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 [CPT/Inf (98) 12].
269
Voivodeship Psychiatric Hospital in Warta, Voivodeship Psychiatric Hospital in Olsztyn, Voivodeship Hospital for Neurotic and Psychiatric Patients in Suchowola, Dr Józef Babiński Specialist Psychiatric Hospital Health Care Centre in Łódź, Public Health Care Centre in Łuków, Regional Forensic
Psychiatry Centre in Gostynin.
270
Autonomous Public Voivodeship Hospital in Gorzów Wielkopolski
265
266
100
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