Vol. 504 No. 4
196 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if the circumstances will be investigated whereby a patient of a hospital (details supplied) was able to move unsupervised in the local housing area causing distress and concern to young women; and if the patient was awaiting trial for a very serious sexual crime. [12237/99]
I have made inquiries in this matter and understand that the patient was admitted to St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane as a voluntary patient on 15 April 1998.
On Tuesday evening 28 April 1998 the patient visited a supermarket located adjacent to the hospital. Following his return to the hospital, a complaint was received from a female shop assistant employed in the supermarket regarding the behaviour of the patient in the shop earlier in the evening. The complaint was made to the hospital's security officer, who referred it to the nursing officer of the acute admission unit. The unit nursing officer contacted the proprietor of the supermarket to establish the circumstances giving rise to the complaint by the shop assistant. The proprietor indicated that she did not wish to make an official complaint about the incident. This was subsequently reported in the unit's day report book.
On Wednesday morning 29 April 1998 the supermarket proprietor contacted the hospital manager regarding concerns she had about the incident on the previous evening. These concerns were immediately brought to the attention of the clinical director, chief nursing officer, assistant chief nursing officers and nursing officers and an investigation was commenced immediately by the hospital's management team.
At 3.00 p.m. on 29 April 1998 the gardaí requested a meeting with the hospital's management team and this took place immediately. The gardaí advised that the patient was awaiting trial on serious sexual assault charges. Up to the time of this meeting with the gardaí the hospital authorities were not aware from any source that the patient was awaiting trial on serious sexual assault charges.
On the basis of this additional information, the clinical director reviewed the patient and advised that he remain in the hospital notwithstanding his status as a voluntary patient. It is understood that the patient remained within the hospital until the date of his discharge, 19 May 1998. Following discharge the patient received out-patient care and treatment up to 15 August 1998.
