The importance of improving the facilities at the Asylum Seekers Unit in Mount Carmel Hospital has been acknowledged by Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne.
The acknowledgement comes in the wake of a damning report highlighting the substandard conditions of the unit, drawn up by the Jesuit Refugee Service.
According to the report, the unit did not foster the therapeutic environment important to treating the trauma and mental health problems experienced by some migrants.
It did not allow for any activities and opportunities for the migrants to socialise and was at risk of overcrowding as the unit sometimes also accommodated Maltese female inmates with substance abuse issues.
Most migrants with mental health problems were only admitted for treatment after trying to commit suicide within detention, the report had noted. It also highlighted the irregular availability of interpreters and the dangerous use of untrained interpreters.
Mount Carmel Hospital has introduced a cultural mediator service
Mr Fearne last week held a meeting with JRS over the findings.
“Mr Fearne highlighted the importance of ameliorating the facilities at the Asylum Seekers Unit at Mount Carmel Hospital, including better facilities for counselling,” his spokeswoman said.
During the meeting it was noted that, since the period on which the report was compiled (between December 2013 and June 2014), a new Female Dual Diagnosis Unit had been opened at Mount Carmel Hospital for female drug addicts.
“This has gone some way in addressing one of the problems identified in the report,” the spokeswoman said.
“Mount Carmel Hospital has also recently introduced a limited cultural mediator service in collaboration with the Refugee Commission.”
While thanking the JRS for their work and dedication, Mr Fearne agreed to hold regular meetings to discuss ways to improve health services offered to asylum seekers.
JRS director Katrine Camilleri welcomed the secretariat’s commitment to take concrete steps in the short term to improve the conditions for migrants receiving in-patient care at Mount Carmel.
“Steps identified include reviewing the current facilities and the regime within the ward in order to create a more therapeutic environment and providing adequate space for therapeutic services such as counselling and occupational therapy within the ward,” Dr Camilleri said.
Also positive, she continued, was the willingness to explore the possibility of strengthening the existing service for the provision of interpreters.
It was clear, however, that in the longer term a number of other issues needed to be addressed to improve the mental health services provided to detainees.
The JRS acknowledged that addressing certain issues, such as the quality of care, support and follow-up care in detention centres for migrants with mental health problems, required the involvement of other ministries.
“We...hope that it will be possible to put in place the necessary services, including the engagement of social workers or other professionals whose focus is the welfare of detainees and the provision of support to persons in a particularly vulnerable situation in detention centres.”