15 Noll 2014, 14:17
HSE Officials to also address HIQA review of Ambulance Services
15 December 2014
The HSE Director General, Tony O' Brien, will be appearing before the Joint Committee on Health and Children tomorrow evening to consider the issues raised by the RTÉ Prime Time investigation into alleged abuse of residents at Áras Attracta care home.
Committee Chair Jerry Buttimer, TD said: “As a Committee, we were shocked at appalling evidence of alleged abuse of residents at Áras Attracta uncovered by RTÉ Prime Time. This Tuesday, we have asked senior HSE officials to meet with our Committee to discuss how they propose to respond to the serious issues highlighted by the documentary. The HSE has already issued an apology and promised an investigation under an independent chairman. We will explore what steps can be taken to restore public confidence in care home services. Given that there are about 900 homes providing similar services nationwide, the Committee will be seeking re-assurances from the HSE that its systems can prevent any issues of poor treatment in congregated settings. The Committee has agreed to carry out a focussed review of Treatment in Congregated Settings in the New Year, and this is just the first step in the Committee's work.\"
Before this, the Committee will hold a separate session with HSE officials to hear their response to issues raised in HIQA’s recently published Review of the Ambulance Service.
Deputy Buttimer continues: “Following another RTÉ Prime Time investigation in March, there have been concerns about differences in response times across various ambulance regions, and the potential impact on patient safety. Earlier this month, HIQA appeared before our Committee to outline a number of deficiencies and governance issues raised in relation to the national ambulance service. The HIQA review pointed to a number of challenges in the area of workforce planning and leadership, and highlighted a number of shortcomings in relation to training, management and strategic planning. On both of these issues we are looking forward to a full, detailed and in-depth response to these concerns from HSE officials.”
The Committee sessions will start in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000 at 5:30 pm tomorrow Tuesday 16 December, commencing with the HIQA review on ambulance services. It is anticipated that the discussions relating to the Prime Time programme on Care Homes will commence at 7pm.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
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Committee Membership:
Deputies: Jerry Buttimer (Chair), Catherine Byrne, Ciara Conway (Vice-Chair), Regina Doherty, Robert Dowds, Peter M Fitzpatrick, Seamus Healy, Billy Kelleher, Eamonn Maloney, Clare Daly, Sandra McLellan, Dan Neville, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Robert Troy
Senators: Colm Burke, John Crown, John Gilroy, Imelda Henry, Marc Mac Sharry and Jillian Van Turnhout