MORE THAN 170 complaints were made to the HSE last year concerning standards and services in homes supporting people with intellectual disability, documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) for January 2007 until now reveal.
The most serious incidents include two complaints of “abuse” and an allegation of “physical assault” raised by service users against staff at different centres.
A charge of “physical assault” and complaints of “abuse” made against members of staff, are just some of the complaints that have been made to the HSE relating to standards and services provided in homes for intellectual disability, The Irish Times has learned.
The revelation follows a recent announcement by the Government that no independent inspection is to take place in places supporting adults with an intellectually disability because funds are not available.
The most serious incidents include two complaints of “abuse” and an allegation of “physical assault” raised by service users against staff at different centres.
The HSE, which carried out investigations in a number of centres, said the outcome of the investigation into the alleged physical assault was “inconclusive”. But it said the staff member was removed from the area to another building with the agreement of the service user’s family.
Regarding the other case of reported abuse, a client claimed physical and verbal abuse against a staff member.
The HSE said the issues raised by the complainant were dealt with within the normal management of clients at the centre in question and a HSE “trust in care” investigation was not required.
In another home, a “social work investigation” is ongoing in conjunction with local gardaí after a number of complaints brought to the HSE which were investigated under “adult abuse procedures”.
Other incidents include a parent complaining that her daughter did not receive her medication on about “four occasions” while availing of respite care.
Management at the centre in question admitted this was “very serious” and were dealing with the incident in a “disciplinary matter”.
In another home, an investigation was carried out by the Mental Health Commission after an anonymous letter was sent to it concerning “standards of care” as well as “facility standards” at the home.
Deirdre Carroll, chief executive of Inclusion Ireland, an umbrella group representing people with intellectual disabilities, says reports of neglect and abuse have been made to its organisation before. “We have had reports coming to us highlighting issues such as neglect . . . in some instances, reports of physical abuse have also been made.” she said.
Last month, the Health Information and Quality Authority published national quality standards for residential services supporting adults with an intellectual disability. However, Minister of state for disability John Moloney recently announced that funds were not available to implement the plans. No national quality of care standards have yet been established for residential homes providing services for children.