REACTION:THE ALLEGED abuse at a Dublin nursing home was "quite horrifying", Minister of State for Older People Kathleen Lynch said yesterday.
There was a case to extend the powers of the Health Information and Quality Authority to congregated settings where people with disabilities lived and to community services, she said. “If we did not have a body like that which is charged with inspection and with the power to revoke licences, it’s just horrific to think this would go on and on with nobody with the power to stop it.
The Government would ensure that whistleblower legislation was introduced to ensure vulnerable people were protected, she told RTÉ.
Minister for Health James Reilly said the allegations were very serious. “I have absolute faith in Hiqa’s standards and quality assessments,” he said. “The safety of patients, of clients at nursing homes has to be paramount. Anything that compromises that can’t be tolerated.” He did not want to comment further because the matter was still before the courts.
Advocacy organisation Age Action Ireland called for greater protection for whistleblowers. “If vulnerable residents in nursing homes are to be adequately protected, then those who care for them must be empowered to highlight when substandard care is being delivered,” spokesman Eamon Timmins said.
Whistleblowers should be protected from any comeback either by employers or colleagues.
The unique position of frontline carers meant they “see and hear things that nursing home inspectors are unlikely to be aware of. That was the case in Rostrevor House and was also the case of Leas Cross nursing home investigation in 2005,” Mr Timmins said.
“Staff should be encouraged, as part of their training, to report sub-standard care and be protected by statutory authorities when they do so. Staff who care for vulnerable older people have a moral responsibility to speak up for those who may no longer be able to speak up for themselves,” Mr Timmins added.
Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents nursing home owners, said that as an organisation, it abhorred any abuse of older people. Chief executive Tadhg Daly said care of the older person should be focused on quality of care delivered with respect.
“Where any NHI member does not meet the standards or requirements of the inspection regime, we offer them support and guidance.”
However, he said it would be inappropriate for his organisation to comment on individual inspection reports.
Fianna Fáil’s health spokesman Billy Kelleher expressed shock upon hearing of the alleged abuse. “The allegations are truly horrific and must be investigated fully,” he said. “Regardless of our political views we can all agree that abuse, as alleged to have happened here, can never be tolerated.”