Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 5

Written Answers. - Portrane (Dublin) Hospital Inquiry.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

226 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the position in St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin following a recent inquiry into alleged abuses; and the resources, if any, he proposes to make available to improve and upgrade facilities in the mental handicap services in this hospital.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The Eastern Health Board is responsible for the delivery of services in St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin.

Following an allegation that some patients with mental handicap in St. Ita's Hospital were receiving improper care, an inquiry team was established by the Eastern Health Board to investigate the specific allegations made. My Department was informed on 11 February that the inquiry had concluded that practices in some parts of the hospital were a cause for concern.

As I was gravely concerned that the interests of patients would be protected I met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Health Board to discuss the matter with him.

The board has appointed a full-time Director of Mental Handicap Services to St. Ita's Hospital. Changes were also made at medical management level and nursing and other care staff were re-assigned, within the hospital. I understand that the patients to whom the allegations referred have been moved to new accommodation on campus and that the parents of the patients have been informed by the board of developments and of the reasons for the service re-organisation within the hospital.

I have been assured by the board that while the initial inquiry failed to substantiate the specific allegations made against individuals, the inquiry is continuing and will be pursued with the utmost vigour. The board has prepared a draft plan which addresses the future needs of patients with mental handicap at St. Ita's Hospital. This plan is currently being examined in detail by officials of my Department.

I can assure the Deputy that I will be remaining closely involved in all aspects of the situation, and any further action considered necessary will be taken.

As the Deputy is aware a special additional allocation of £8 million was made available to my Department in the budget to provide significant improvements in services for people with disabilities including mental handicap. This extra allocation is the largest additional allocation ever made in this area.

I am proposing to implement a package of measures which will address the most acute needs for services mainly for people with a mental handicap. The actual services to be provided will be agreed in each health board area by the Regional Mental Handicap Co-ordinating Committees, which are representative of the health boards, voluntary agencies and parents, and approved by the Department. St. Joseph's Mental Handicap Service, St. Ita's Hospital is represented on the planning committee for the Eastern region.

I hope to be in a position shortly to give details of the allocation of this additional funding.