An Inspectors report has revealed that Patients in a psychiatric unit at University Hospital Waterford had to eat their meals by their bedside because they could not access a new communal dining area.

‘The Irish Independent’ reports that a lack of catering staff left the new communal area unused.

The report by the Mental Health Commission showed there were five instances of ‘high’ risk rating in the areas of privacy, premises, staffing, registration, and admission of children.

Commission chief inspector Dr Susan Finnerty, said that clinical files were in very poor order and it was disappointing that in three of the approved centres not all staff had received the required training in basic life support, fire safety, the management of aggression and violence, and on the Mental Health Act 2001.

On the other hand, she said that it is heartening to see that in two approved centres all the health care professionals had up-to-date, mandatory training completed.

Other areas of concern to the Inspectorate are in the area of hygiene, where catering areas were not appropriately cleaned.