Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
564. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to address failings found within the "Your service, your say" system in view of media reports; if the actions include a full review; if official contact has been made with those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54164/18]
View answerI understand that the Deputy’s question arises in the context of a Prime Time programme which was broadcast on 25 October last.
Arising from the programme the Department contacted the Health Service Executive on the issues raised and was assured that the care and wellbeing of the residents is the primary consideration of the Person in Charge of each residential care centre. The overarching principle is that families play an important role in the care of their loved one and that visiting should be facilitated in the interest of the resident unless there are compelling reasons why this cannot be done.
At the request of the Director General the HSE commissioned a report from the National Director of Community Operations to ascertain the facts in relation to the instances of visiting restrictions in place in each of the nine Community Healthcare Organisations.
Each Chief Officer was requested to ensure that where a restriction has been applied that this should be kept under on-going review, that the guiding principle of maximum inclusion of families is upheld and that the consideration of the issue is informed by the most recent regulatory report in respect of each centre insofar as that report makes reference to families, family’s views, visiting, inclusion etc.
Each Chief Officer has now reviewed the restrictions currently in place within their area of responsibility. On foot of this review the HSE has advised the Department that it does not routinely use visiting restrictions in residential care centres across the country. There are currently 11 instances where visiting to residents is restricted across the country across public Older Persons and Mental Health Services. This is in the context of currently providing over 7,000 such beds across those services. In addition, visiting restrictions are in place in relation to 3 residents in Disability Centres.
In some instances, the residents in question are Wards of Court and in other cases, family members hold Enduring Power of Attorney and have requested certain restrictions. In other cases, there are safeguarding concerns.
The cases need to be viewed in the context of the entire service and reflects the HSE’s aspiration that restrictions to visiting are a last resort after all other appropriate interventions have failed. In the case of one of the individuals featured on the Prime Time programme, a mediation process is being progressed.
In a broader sense, the Government has approved the development of a national adult safeguarding policy for the health sector and work to formulate this policy is under way. The policy, when developed, will cover the public, voluntary and private health sector and will include proposals on collaboration, information-sharing and referral arrangements between the health sector and other key sectors. It is intended to circulate a draft policy for public consultation around the end of 2019 before submitting final policy proposals to Government for approval. Following Government approval, appropriate underpinning legislation will be prepared.
