Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
798. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department and agencies under its aegis have taken to address the issue of elder abuse; his plans for further policy initiatives in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1651/19]
View answerThe safety and protection of all those, including older people, who may be at risk of harm or abuse is an important priority for the Government.
A framework of policies and procedures for the safeguarding of adults (including older people) who may be at risk of abuse, harm and exploitation within the health sector is in place, and further measures are being developed to strengthen this framework.
In December 2017 the Government approved the development of a national adult safeguarding policy for the health sector. The policy will apply across the wide spectrum of the health sector, i.e. in the public, private and voluntary sectors, and will be supported by any necessary legislation. The development of this policy is now underway.
The HSE published its national adult safeguarding operational policy and procedures, Safeguarding Vulnerable People at Risk of Abuse, in December 2014. This provides clear guidelines and procedures for staff to follow in cases of suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults (including older people). This safeguarding policy was the first such HSE operational policy to encompass both elder abuse concerns and concerns of abuse and neglect relating to people availing of disability services.
The HSE has established a number of structures to implement its national operational safeguarding policy. This includes:
- A National Safeguarding Office leading the implementation of the policy;
- Specialist Safeguarding and Protection Teams in each of the 9 Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) areas;
- Nomination of by service providers of more than 1,500 designated safeguarding officers;
- Approximately 43,000 attendances at safeguarding policy and procedures training; and
- An advisory National Safeguarding Committee.
A detailed review of the operation of the HSE’s operational safeguarding policy is at an advanced stage and is expected to be completed soon. It is expected that the learning identified from the HSE's review will also help to inform the development of the national policy.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health Act 2007 provided for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), its inspection and regulation of designated residential centres for (i) people with disabilities, (ii) older people, and (iii) children, and the framework for registration of these designated centres.
HIQA and the Mental Health Commission are currently in the process of jointly developing National Standards for Adult Safeguarding, with advisory input from the Department of Health among others.
Taken together, the Department’s national health sector adult safeguarding policy and legislation, the HSE’s revised operational policy and HIQA and the MHC’s joint national standards should ensure the continued evolution and improvement of the safeguarding of adults (including older people) who may be at risk in the health sector.
