Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. He used the words "safety" and "dignity" and referred to medical models which were not compatible. Mr. Dermot Walsh who is present in the Visitors Gallery was involved with the Disability Federation of Ireland's and the HSE's listening and changing, person-centred consultation. It is obviously this to which the Minister is referring. However, this system is failing very badly. Mr. Walsh is a wheelchair user. He uses a Storm wheelchair which is due to be changed as it is seven years old. In the meantime, he is obliged to get it fixed on each occasion on which it breaks down. It is specially adapted to meet the needs of Mr. Walsh who goes to work every day. In July one of the wheels fell off and he was informed that new wheel bearings would be required. He went to his usual engineer to have it fixed but was informed that he would first be obliged to go to an occupational therapist. As a result, he went to see the occupational therapist in Crumlin in an environment with which he was not familiar. He was asked to remove himself from the chair which was then assessed by an occupational therapist who had been only newly appointed and an engineer who was not aware of his needs. The report which was compiled as a result of this exercise stated the wheel bearings would have to be fixed and that the foot plates and arm rests would have to be changed, which Mr. Walsh did not want. He was not involved in the consultation in any way and it is outrageous that he was placed in the situation to which I refer. In the interim, he has been informed by the occupational therapist that he will be obliged to go to Thomas Street in order to have his chair modified. Is this the type of situation in which we want people to find themselves? This man has not been able to go to work because he is afraid to use the chair without the wheel being repaired. He did not want the chair to be changed or modified in a way which did not suit him. His chair was taken from him on Monday last and he has not yet got it back. This all resulted from the fact that he was not consulted about his needs. His life has been in chaos since July.

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