Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for the opportunity to speak on this issue. It is appropriate that a statement is made here. Elected representatives deserve this courtesy and I thank Senators who raised the issue as it gives me the opportunity to outline the actions being taken by the HSE arising from this very serious matter.

Like others, I was shocked and distressed by the revelations of extremely poor and unacceptable standards of care and mistreatment of vulnerable residents in Áras Attracta. Every person who uses disability services is entitled to expect and receive supports of the highest standard and to live in an atmosphere of safety and care. This is particularly important for vulnerable people in residential care whose families have entrusted them to the care of professional staff. The mistreatment highlighted in the "Prime Time" programme is very disturbing and needs to be fully investigated. In that regard, I welcome the immediate response of the HSE, following receipt of these serious allegations, to alert the Garda and HIQA and for the protection of both residents and staff themselves, to place a number of staff off-duty while the allegations are being investigated. I am assured that staffing levels are being appropriately maintained to deliver safe care to all residents.

I also welcome and support the HSE's initiation of both an expert investigation into these serious allegations, chaired by Mr. Christy Lynch, and an independently chaired review of the services provided at this facility led by Dr. Kevin McCoy. I have been fully briefed by the HSE since it became aware of these allegations and I have asked it to ensure that all appropriate resources are put in place to ensure that the safety and care of residents at Áras Attracta is maintained at the highest possible standard. I have also asked the HSE to brief me on the outcome of these investigations as soon as possible.

I have been assured that the HSE's priority is to protect the very valuable services that people residing in Áras Attracta receive as a critical support to them and their families. I am aware that the HSE has contacted families of residents in Áras Attracta offering to meet with them. I would encourage families and concerned members of the public to contact the HSE's information line at 1850 241 850 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The safeguarding and protection of vulnerable people in the care of the health service is of paramount importance. In this respect, I understand that the director general of the HSE has written to all staff informing them that the onus is on them to take personal responsibility to ensure that the individuals supported by the HSE in any setting are treated with dignity and respect.

The HSE is also considering initiating its own undercover investigations into operations in HSE facilities to supplement the programme of inspections already in place and as part of a suite of measures it is developing to protect vulnerable people. In addition to these initiatives, the HSE's new national policy and protocols for safeguarding vulnerable persons at risk of abuse, which I launched on 5 December 2014, clears the way for staff members in HSE and non-HSE facilities, and members of the public, to refer allegations of abuse to designated reporting individuals. This new policy, which came into force on Friday last, with immediate effect, places an onus on providers of services to vulnerable people to appoint a designated officer to both receive and follow up on concerns and reports of abuse. Under the new policy it is the responsibility of all staff and service providers to ensure the protection and welfare of vulnerable people. In each community health care organisation, a safeguarding and protection team will work in partnership with all relevant service providers to ensure that concerns and complaints are addressed. This policy complements the statutory inspection by HIQA of nursing homes and residential centres for people with a disability and is very welcome.

I also welcome the public appeal made by the chief executive of HIQA to encourage any persons who have concerns about the treatment of vulnerable persons in our disability services to contact HIQA. He has emphasised that the matter will be taken very seriously and looked at in the context of HIQA's significant regulatory powers of inspection of residential facilities. I am very conscious that the events we witnessed in the "Prime Time" programme yesterday happened in the home of these vulnerable individuals. It is incumbent on us to do everything possible to remind the management and staff of our services of that fact and of the need to maintain high standards of ethical behaviour and apply the training and principles of person centred care in everything they do.

I doubt there is an individual in the country who was not disturbed by what we saw last night.