- 75 232. The delegation also noted a frequent absence of the minimum hospital equipment required
for the care of patients (80% of the population being elderly or handicapped). For instance, in
pavilion 16 of the Attica State Mental Hospital - where some 30 of the 75 women inmates were
bedridden - there were no suitable means of moving them and no bedpans. As a result, the patients even those not suffering from incontinence - often lay in their excrement until washed. Such
conditions can only be described as wretched.
The delegation also saw a very old patient being transported under disgraceful conditions.
He was brought down to the van used as an ambulance and dragged inside without due care, then
laid directly on the floor with no protection.
Furthermore, in certain establishments (i.e. the Attica State Mental Hospital for children and
the Leros Public Health Establishments, including the Hospital for children with special needs) the
delegation noted a very short supply of essential equipment suitable for persons afflicted with
severe psychomotor disabilities.
The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities take steps without delay to ensure
that the necessary basic hospital equipment adapted to patients' needs is made available and
used.
233. Sanitary installations in the establishments visited were, on the whole, rudimentary, in a
poor state of repair, and not sufficiently numerous (eg. 4 showers for 82 patients in pavilion 18 of
the Attica State Mental Hospital; in the Leros establishments, one shower for 36 patients in Lepida
VIII and one shower for 44 patients in Lakki IV), even in more modern premises such as the
Bodosakio building at the Attica State Mental Hospital. In Leros, drinking water was not available
everywhere.
In all establishments visited, most toilets were of the asian variety (i.e. seatless). It should
be stressed that this type of toilet is not suited to aged and/or handicapped patients. The
delegation observed that the renovation of the sanitary installations in pavilion 16 at the Attica State
Mental Hospital did not include changing the type of toilets, despite the efforts of the medical staff
to secure an alteration. Similarly, the refurbishment of the sanitary facilities being undertaken in
certain parts of Leros establishments was confined to renovation of the walls with no basic change
in the structures. Furthermore, in all the establishments visited, many of the toilets, which in some
cases were used by both men and women, had no door and therefore provided no privacy for the
patients.
Lastly, most of the toilets and washrooms in the establishments visited were in a poor
condition (excreta on toilet floors; wet floors increasing risk of accident). In addition, some
pavilions at Leros had contiguous sanitary installations and food serving areas, which represented
an additional insanitary factor. This design was replicated by the renovations in hand (Lepida XI;
Hospital for children with special needs).
The CPT recommends the Greek authorities:
-
to take into account the above comments when renovating existing sanitary
installations and designing new ones;
-
to take the necessary steps to have sanitary installations kept in a satisfactory state of
cleanliness.
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