HSE gets ‘chilling’ dossier of abuse
HEALTH watchdog HIQA has sent a dossier of evidence to the Government warning that a number of disability centres may have to close for ‘breaches of human rights’.
HIQA chief Phelim Quinn sent the file to Health Minister Leo Varadkar, claiming some centres had not carried out improvements in spite of numerous warnings.
The dossier will add fuel to a bitter row between the watchdog and the HSE that went public in recent weeks following a damning report into Portlaoise Hospital. At one point, HSE chief Tony O’Brien threatened to sue HIQA, something Mr Varadkar said would not be appropriate.
HIQA has been monitoring disability centres for 18 months, revealing a raft of serious concerns. Mr Quinn has described the findings as ‘disturbing and chilling’.
In recent weeks a centre in Co. Westmeath was heavily criticised for keeping residents indoors 10 out of 14 days, and a centre in the southeast failed to report allegations of abuse.
The health watchdog typically visits a disability centre, makes a report and then sends an action plan to the centre and the HSE with detailed lists of remedial
actions. The watchdog reports regularly to the Department of Health, Mr Varadkar and junior minister Kathleen Lynch.
The Irish Mail on Sunday understands the dossier, handed over within the last two weeks, included the warning that some centres might have to be closed.
People in the disability sector warned the consequences of this would be immense for residents in the affected homes and have called for greater supports to be provided.
A spokesman for HIQA was unable to comment directly on the content of individual letters. But he did accept that the body had concerns: ‘There are a number of centres we have serious concerns about. We report directly to the minister. The Government would be aware of our concerns. It is a reasonable assumption to make that there are some centres at risk.’
A spokesman for the department said: ‘The department is aware that HIQA has serious concerns regarding the level of care that people are receiving in a number of disability centres and the department has raised the matter with the HSE with a view to addressing those concerns.’
He said the HSE and some service providers were working on action plans given to them after critical inspections.
Inclusion Ireland CEO Paddy Connolly said: ‘HIQA’s dilemma is that some of these centres may require to be closed but the HSE may not have the resources and the Government may not make the investment in the alternative settings. So we end up re-institutionalising people in some other setting because we don’t make the investment for independent communitybased living.’
The HSE policy since 2011 has been to close large institutions and congregated settings to place people in smaller housing set-ups. A ‘congregated setting’ is defined as a ward or single room containing 10 or more people.
The HSE’s budget for the disability sector is €1.5bn but critics have said the division of money between community and institutional settings is not balanced.
A department spokesman refused to be drawn on whether extra funding could be found for disability centres in a similar manner to that allocated last week to the A&E crisis.
Mr Connolly warned simply closing the buildings was not adequate. He said: ‘There are significant cultural issues in these places.
‘You can move people out of the large institutions but if you move them and the staff and the management with them into four bungalows, you are transposing the culture into a different setting.’
Independent Dublin North Central TD Finian McGrath said: ‘The priority should be the residents. I don’t think people should be thrust out of these centres. Some of these people are in their 30s and 40s and have never known another home.
‘The key is finding the right staff; it’s not just about having a modern building or great facilities.’
Mr McGrath, whose daughter attends a day-centre, added: ‘HIQA can be quite bureaucratic in its approach. I’ve had calls from centres where something as small as a ramp missing has resulted in a threat to close.’
Focus fell on disability centres following shocking footage shot by RTÉ in Áras Attracta in Co. Mayo. A spokesman for Ms Lynch said: ‘It is acknowledged that much work remains to be carried out on an ongoing basis to ensure all Áras
‘The minister would be aware of our concerns’
Attracta facilities comply with disability residential standards.’
Earlier this week, Mr Quinn issued a stark warning about standards in some areas of the sector at the National Summit for Disabilities.
He said it was ‘ disturbing and chilling’ that abuses associated with history were still being found today in spite of some ‘excellent examples’ of good service. ‘ Our recent findings across differing
‘HIQA can be quite bureacratic’
provider organisations indicate fundamental breaches in regulations and standards but more strikingly in the human rights of individuals.’
In a worrying list of problems, he listed dangerous use of restraints, keeping residents indoors for long periods, lack of privacy in toilets and failure to provide staff training.