Authorities questioned over 'missing person' incident at Mayo healthcare facility

HEALTH authorities have been questioned about a 'missing person' incident that occurred at a healthcare facility in Mayo last month.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne has asked if a formal HSE investigation has been launched into the incident, that occurred on or about February 1 at St. John’s Unit, located at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar, but which is managed by Mayo University Hospital, to identify the underlying causes for the incident.

He has also tabled a question for the monthly Regional Health Forum West meeting today about the staffing profile on duty in the unit on the day in question.

Councillor Kilcoyne has received the following written response from the integrated health area manager: 'Patient safety is always a priority and every effort is always made to locate a patient. We include family and the gardai to assist in the location of a patient, where necessary.

'It is important to also note that our sites are not locked and patients are free to go outside and we advise all patients to notify staff if they are leaving the ward prior to doing so to prevent unnecessary concern.

'This incident has been thoroughly reviewed as part of the internal incident management process within Mayo University Hospital (MUH) and in line with the Incident Management Framework.

'Patient safety remains a priority focus in MUH and all absconscion incidents are reported and investigated under the Incident Management process.

'MUH has a detailed policy to follow when a patient goes missing, in the event that a patient leaves the hospital and does not advise staff of their intent this policy is followed.

'Where there is an identified risk of a patient being vulnerable of risk absconding there are extra measures put in place to maintain their safety.

'If a patient leaves the site and is identified as missing an incident is raised and this then follows the incident management process. Where there is specific learning or changes required from these incidents then these are actioned as quality improvements.'

The response added: 'It is important to note that hospital staff have no authority or legal right to prevent an adult patient with capacity from leaving a ward or the hospital. The main exceptions include children and a person detained under the Mental Health Act; patients who have been deemed to lack the mental capacity to act and make decisions in their own right.'

Councillor Kilcoyne asked the HSE to confirm the staffing profile in situ in St. John’s Unit on the day in question, i.e. the make up of the multi-disciplinary team.

The MUH information booklet states that the unit has consultant presence, 24 hour medical cover and a full multidisciplinary team, he said, asking if all of this in place on the day in question?

He was informed: 'Yes, a multi-disciplinary team presence was in place on the date in question. There were five registered general nurses, two health care assistants, and one non consultant hospital doctor.'

As February 1 was a Saturday there was no consultant physically on site and the health and social care professional staff were not on site. If it were on a Monday there would have been OT physio and potentially a social worker.

'This would be in line with most wards in the hospital,' the response added.