I am advised by the Health Information and Quality Authority that in six situations since 2015, inspectors found that the provider of a designated centre had not made an appropriate referral to An Garda Síochána. HIQA subsequently referred these allegations to An Garda Síochána.
It is important to note that these referrals were in addition to the measures taken by HIQA requiring the provider to implement actions to ensure the safety of residents. All safeguarding issues are reviewed as a matter of priority to determine the most appropriate regulatory action. In situations where substantiated safeguarding issues are identified, providers are required to take action to ensure the safety of residents. If immediate risks to the safety of residents are identified, providers must take immediate action to address these issues and to prevent a recurrence.
In all situations, including the six referred to above, the Chief Inspector continues to monitor the actions of the provider to ensure they are effective in addressing the safeguarding concerns. The Chief Inspector can, and has, taken further action, up to and including the cancellation of registration, where providers fail to sustain improvements to residents’ safety.
Significant work is ongoing to develop a national policy on adult safeguarding in the health sector. It is expected that the policy will address, inter alia, appropriate reporting arrangements. Legislation as required to underpin the policy will be prepared subject to its approval by Government.
I would like to acknowledge my appreciation for HIQA’s participation in and important ongoing contribution to the high-level Steering Group which was established to assist and advise my Department in its development of a national adult safeguarding policy for the health sector and I welcome the Authority’s strong support in this regard.