Council of Europe urges Romania to improve psychiatric hospital conditions

Romania must take immediate action to improve the living conditions and treatment of patients in psychiatric institutions and residential care centres the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) said on Thursday, https://www.euractiv.com/ reads.   The findings result from an ad hoc visit to four civil psychiatric hospitals and, for the first time, to three different types of residential care centres. CTP carried out the mission between 19 and 30 September to assess the specific treatment for people receiving care.   The most disturbing situation, which the CPT described as amounting to “inhuman and degrading treatment”, was uncovered at the Padureni-Grajduri Psychiatric and Security Hospital.   At the time of the delegation’s visit, 452 patients were accommodated in 390 beds, while the hospital had an official capacity of 251 beds. This means that 104 patients were forced to share beds in crowded dormitories, leaving minimal floor space. In the admission ward, a 24m2 room accommodated 18 patients in nine beds.   Overall, four civil psychiatric hospitals were checked – Balaceanca, Botosani, Obregia (Bucharest) and Socola (Ia?i) -and three residential care centres (Neuropsychiatric Recovery and Rehabilitation Centres in Costana and Sasca Mica, the Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities in Pastraveni, and the Care and Assistance Centre in Mircesti). However, despite the generally positive report regarding staff contact with patients, there were allegations of ill-treatment, particularly in the acute male ward of the Botosani Psychiatric Clinic and the Padureni-Grajduri Hospital.   The report found that this mistreatment included physical violence such as hitting, slapping, pushing and shouting by auxiliary staff. These actions were taken in response to minor transgressions and accidents or as part of restraints, often used punitively to manage patients in an often dangerous, turbulent and understaffed environment.   “I will ask for an internal investigation to check on the reported situation, and if confirmed, to make responsible those in charge”, Monica Adascalitei, the interim manager of the County Emergency Hospital Mavromati Botosani, told Agerpres after the CTP’s report was released.   Regarding using straps to restrain agitated patients, the CPT considers that such measures should no longer be used for children. Instead, staff should be trained in manual restraint techniques, and children’s wards should have designated calming rooms. In addition, the safeguards surrounding the use of restraint, including the accurate recording of each case and its duration, should be strengthened.   The CPT advocates a shift from institutional care towards establishing community-based mental health services with robust social support structures.   The newly released report has heightened existing concerns. Earlier in July, reports emerged about “Nazi camps-style” care centres for disabled people who were left to starve without food or proper care.   This alarming revelation shook Romania’s political scene and left society in outrage. While there were subsequent resignations at the highest levels of government, international organisations are once again cautioning authorities to take urgent action to address the systemic issues.