Sir, – It is clear from all the justifiable outrage generated by the Áras Attracta scandal that the main issue in relation to monitoring of services for the most vulnerable people receiving care is one of oversight.
Good management has an important role, as has the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), but the most important way to ensure that good standards of care are maintained is objective monitoring by advocates. These can be voluntary or paid but must be independent of the service provider and user.
This would ensure that independent individuals are overseeing the care provided and families would feel free to voice concerns to their relative’s advocate without the worry that their loved one might suffer as a result.
This level of oversight could possibly be provided by the HSE’s National Advocacy Unit, if this were extended to all service areas, particularly those used by vulnerable people.
Another way is to open all these service areas to Garda-vetted volunteers, who would provide much-needed social interaction and stimulation, while at the same time observing the standard of care provided by staff.
The model that comes to mind is one that is used in the Royal Hospital, in Donnybrook, Dublin. This hospital has over 100 volunteers that are coordinated by a designated member of staff.
As one of these volunteers, I have observed very good standards of care in the Royal, but would still feel free to comment or intervene if I saw a situation where this was not the case. – Yours, etc,
MAUREEN FALLON,
Dublin 4.