A frightening insight on care
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THE appalling case of Leas Cross is recalled today by the care assistant whose undercover work brought that nursing home scandal to light four years ago.
An Irish Independent investigation today reveals that serious deficiencies in standards of care have again been detected in a number of nursing homes.
A new inspection system introduced in recent weeks will go some way towards eradicating abuses, but as long as there can be an accountability deficit, there will be a need for a strict internal watchdog policy, as was suggested by the original whistleblower, Cathal Gallagher, today. Some of the latest cases, ranging from neglect to wilful disregard for human dignity, are quite distressing.
People will recall that Leas Cross, a Dublin nursing home, was shut down in 2005 after an undercover RTE television investigation provoked considerable public disquiet.
The Health Minister then commissioned Professor Des O'Neill, a consultant geriatrician, to investigate and produce his own report.
It seemed strange that when that report was published at the end of 2006, the minister chose to contradict one of its central findings.
Professor O'Neill emphasised at the time that it would be a mistake to assume that the failings identified at Leas Cross represented an isolated incident. Although conceding that the findings of the report were deeply upsetting, Mary Harney chose to believe that the failings at Leas Cross were very much an exception.
Today's revelations, on foot of the HSE's own investigation of numerous complaints, prove that the minister was wrong to suggest that the Leas Cross failings were unique.
Indeed, reasonable scepticism would have led most reasonable people to the same conclusion.
It may be that frustration, overwork and lack of resources have, on occasions, given rise to what would be perceived by outside observers as abuse while, within some institutions which care for the elderly and mentally infirm, it is accepted as unavoidable, normal practice.
If so, it is an appalling situation that must change.
We will all die some day. But as people generally live longer now, more of us will end our days dependent on others. People must have the confidence to know that they will be able to live out their final years in a dignified manner, and free from fear.
