Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is an important issue and I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting it for debate. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to address it.

Last Thursday week the programme "Prime Time Investigates: Troublemakers" was screened.

It showed how families who care for loved ones in institutional care, be it in a private nursing home or a HSE institution, are denied their natural right to visit their seriously ill family members. Two cases in particular were raised. One was that of Anne Fitzgerald, who is unable to communicate and has been ill and in that medical condition for a long time. Anne's husband Pat and daughter Frances love her greatly and visit her regularly when they are allowed. Pat, who cared so much not just about his wife but also about other people in Cherry Orchard Hospital, made a complaint and expressed concerns about another person who he felt was not being treated properly. As a result, he was barred from visiting his sick wife, as was his daughter. This shameful, disgraceful, arrogant and arbitrary act imposed on Pat and his family is denying to Anne Fitzgerald, the patient who lies in a bed in that hospital, her natural human right to be visited as she wishes by her loved ones. Why was Pat shown on the television programme being allowed to visit his good wife? The reason was that the HSE, in its wisdom, allowed him to visit for one hour four times per week. When the 60 minutes are up, a man knocks on the door and says it is time for him to go. His wife, whom he cares for and loves greatly, is being treated as if she were in jail and is being denied her rights. Pat is being denied his rights, all because he is standing up for other people in a system that is malfunctioning. A recent HIQA report on Cherry Orchard Hospital found nine outcomes of major non-compliance, which is extremely upsetting to all the residents and their families.

It is exceptionally clear to me and, I hope, the country that much more needs to be done to improve standards of care in these institutions. The HSE has been aware for some years of significant shortcomings in the governance, quality and risk management operating in Cherry Orchard Hospital. The shameful and disgraceful treatment of the late David Earls and his family will be the subject of debate here as soon as I can get the facts on three deaths at the hospital, including the death of David. These were investigated and the same outcome in terms of shortcomings in governance, quality and risk management arises.

While I appreciate that the Minister of State is not the administrator of Cherry Orchard Hospital, he is in charge of this area. What I and the family want to see is a proper process of respect for families and an appeals process which they can use if issues arise. Why should Pat not be allowed to visit his wife or Frances her mother in hospital? Anne cannot communicate. No one else will be in that room to see them and for someone to tell them their hour is up is shameful and disgraceful and must end. Since the television programme, no one from the HSE has been in touch with the Fitzgerald family - I rang them just before I came in here - which is absolutely unforgivable. I will be unforgiving and relentless in my pursuit of the management of Cherry Orchard Hospital and the people who make these decisions to ensure these families' absolute right to an appeal.

I will raise the second case in my second contribution.

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