A new report into mental health services during the COVID-19 lockdown has found they generally "got it right".
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier conducted a review of the treatment and conditions of detained Kiwis during New Zealand's alert level 3, including in prisons and aged care facilities.
He released the first of three reports on Monday, which assessed five mental health facilities in the Capital and Coast, and Canterbury District Health Board regions.
Boshier says the report found clients felt "safe" during the pandemic and the findings were "positive".
"Human rights are inalienable. Even during these extraordinary times, people deserve to be treated with care and respect," he said.
"I am pleased to say that this was achieved in the facilities I inspected."
The report also found most of the facilities improved their cleanliness, and all but one had physical distancing protocols in place.
The staff also appeared to be dedicated to the welfare of patients.
"Service users were seen to be treated with dignity and respect," the report said.
The facilities reviewed, including specialist treatment facilities, specialist forensic mental health services, and acute mental health facilities, ranged in size from nine to 64 patients.
They all operated at a 50 percent capacity, in contrast to the beginning of the pandemic where there was a shortage of beds.
Boshier said he was concerned if occupancy numbers were higher during the pandemic, facilities may have found it harder to implement solid plans.
The report found the biggest disruptions to the facilities were the visiting practices at alert levels 3 and 4.
"Contact with the outside world is an essential safeguard against ill-treatment and is critical for the psychological well-being of service users," Boshier said.
"Restricting visitor access to facilities was one of the most significant challenges for service users during the pandemic."
Instead, patients were able to contact friends and family through "a range of communication tools" to "maintain contact with whānau".
The report offered recommendations for improvements in three facilities, which were all located in the Capital and Coast District Health Board region.
