Written answers

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Department of Health

HSE Investigations

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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408. To ask the Minister for Health his views regarding progress in the investigation at Áras Attracta; if he will confirm that none of the staff under investigation have recently been promoted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5645/15]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Like others, I was shocked and distressed by the revelations of extremely poor and unacceptable standards of care and mistreatment of vulnerable adults in Áras Attracta. Every person who uses our disability services is entitled to expect and receive supports of the highest standard and to live in an atmosphere of safety and care.

The safeguarding and protection of vulnerable people in the care of the health service is of paramount importance and the Director General of the HSE has written to all staff instructing them to take personal responsibility for ensuring that individuals supported by the HSE in any setting are treated with dignity and respect.

In December 2014, the HSE initiated both an expert investigation chaired by Mr Christy Lynch, and an independently chaired review of services at this facility led by Dr Kevin McCoy.

Gardaí investigation into allegations of abuse at the centre is ongoing and the Gardaí had requested that a stay is placed on HSE investigations until such time as Garda investigation is completed. I welcome the fact that the Gardaí have now cleared the way so that Mr. Lynch’s investigation can commence. I have asked the HSE to keep me informed of progress.

Mr Lynch’s investigation team is working independently of the HSE and will form an important input into any disciplinary process which the HSE will undertake.

A full assurance review has also been commissioned of all of the Units in the Aras Attracta facility under the independent chairmanship of Dr. Kevin McCoy, assisted by 3 independent experts within the field. The group will review the programme of work already implemented on foot of the reports from HIQA and HSE Audits to establish their effectiveness, identify the gaps that arose and make recommendations for further improvements for each unit at Aras Attracta. In addition the output from the Review Team will help to inform a system –wide programme of improvement and assurance for all residential centres, including a mechanism for input from service users and their families, staff at all levels throughout the sector and academia.

The HSE has undertaken a number of additional initiatives to ensure that quality and safe care in residential services for people with disabilities is appropriately implemented and monitored.

A six-step plan will address this in a systematic way. These steps are:

- The establishment of a National Implementation Taskforce, including a series of National Summits to improve client safety, dignity, respect and culture;

- Implementation of the National Policy & Procedures on Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse;

- Development of an Advocacy programme;

- Implementation of an evaluation and quality improvement programme in disability residential centres;

- Development of an implementation plan for any recommendations arising from the McCoy review of residential services in Áras Attracta when complete, and

- Development of long term sustainable & evidence-based safeguarding practices and training programmes specific to residential settings.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department will monitor progress on the initiatives and processes commissioned by the HSE in relation to Áras Attracta, to ensure that the learning from this incident is promulgated throughout our health system.

As the second part of the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

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