Legislation needed to protect vulnerable adults from abuse - Hiqa

The Government needs to introduce new legislation to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse, according to the head of the State’s health watchdog.

Health Information and Quality Authority chief executive Phelim Quinn says people receiving care services in their own homes are vulnerable and require the protection of a system of legislation.

Mr Quinn has called for a review of the 2007 Health Act to ensure regulation keeps pace with the growing variety of services being provided to vulnerable people.

This would include consideration of how Hiqa might regulate larger private providers, homecare services and other community-based care services.

“All vulnerable people in our society, including the homeless, prisoners, migrants and asylum seekers in direct provision, have the right to access high-quality, safe health and social care services. The State has a duty to protect vulnerable people living in residential settings.”

Speaking to the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, Mr Quinn points out that Hiqa does not yet have the remit to regulate residential services for the homeless, prisoners and asylum seekers.

“Hiqa is concerned with the fact that some service providers remain ignorant of the key principles of safeguarding and fail to recognise examples of poor care.

“Three years into the regulation of residential services for people with a disability we are still finding examples of how abuse and safeguarding issues are institutionalised, are not being addressed, and, in some instances, are engrained in the model of provision.

“They include the continued existence of some outdated and outmoded services; cultures that have not moved on from the days of wholesale institutional care.

“In some instances, those delivering care and those assuring the safe delivery of care do not appear to understand the principles of safeguarding and fail to recognise what poor care looks like.”

Mr Quinn says inspectors repeatedly come across providers who are ignorant of key safeguarding issues, who fail to ensure the protection of vulnerable people from financial abuse or even employ workers who have not undergone Garda vetting or other security checks.