Whistleblowers’ allegations about the island’s acute mental health unit were supported by comments of staff and patients to the Mental Health Commission.

An independent review into Manannan Court, which opened in 2017 replacing out-of-date in-patient facilities at Grianagh Court, was published on September 13.

It highlighted a number of concerns, notably that patient care plans were not fit for purpose, but concluded many aspects have improved since the move from Grianagh Court.

The review was launched after whistleblowing staff contacted the newspaper claiming Manannan Court was at breaking point.

An unannounced visit by the Mental Health Commission on January 19 this year had been planned a week or so earlier but coincided with the newspaper reports.

Staff reported the unit had been over-capacity for several months, and morale was low. One patient reported needles had been found and drugs had been smuggled in.

The MHC found a gap between staff and management was ’potentially corrosive’.

A second unannounced visit in March found the ward ’chronically over-occupied’ and staff morale low. Two patients were on flexible beds and one was sleeping in the elderly ward next door. Patients complained of the noise. One said they felt unsafe. One was confined to their room for 72 hours.

One staff member confirmed the accuracy of the articles’ reference to patients acting up before ward rounds to avoid discharge. One said the leak probably came from someone working on the ward a long time and was ’dripping with bitterness’.

An announced visit in April was more positive although the unit was still over-occupied and it was easy to see how things could deteriorate rapidly.