Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has expressed shock at the revelations of a failure by the HSE to implement safeguarding measures at a HSE run facility.
A report into the care and management of a resident, as reported by RTÉ News, shows that an incident in June last year revealed there had been a failure to implement and review safeguarding measures following a previous incident in 2014.
Teachta Cullinane said that this serves to again highlight the need for major legislative reform, including an Adult Safeguarding Act.
He called on the Government to establish a Safeguarding Authority with a legal right of entry for safeguarding and social work teams, with the capacity to effectively oversee implementation of the legislation.
Teachta Cullinane said:
“The revelations this morning of a failure by the HSE to implement safeguarding measures at a HSE run facility reflects their failure to safely and effectively manage these services. The report reflects shocking failures and my thoughts are with the victim and their family.
“This is yet another report which makes for tough reading and highlights an appalling disregard for what should be standard safeguarding practice.
“The underreporting of serious incidents since 2016 to HIQA is of grave concern. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.
“It is unacceptable that incidents of this nature would go unreported and therefore without appropriate, transparent investigation for a number of years.
“Following the Brandon Case, this again highlights the need for robust adult safeguarding legislation, which the government has delayed time and again for years now.
“The government must establish a safeguarding authority which can deliver accountability in the sector with appropriate powers to enforce the legislation and ensure proper governance in the sector along with HIQA.
“This legislation must ensure mandatory reporting of safeguarding concerns, especially harmful behaviour of this sort.
“Safeguarding teams and social workers need a legal right of entry to residential facilities to ensure all appropriate measures are in place.
“The Minister for Health must take the appropriate action, deliver the necessary legislation and fully support social workers and safeguarding teams including a legal right of entry to investigate incidents.”
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