How much longer is Hannah Comber’s family expected to wait?

HANNAH COMBER died while in the care of people to whom her family had entrusted her life.

Those people were employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Therefore, it is to be expected that they must carry out a thorough investigation of the circumstances. But how long does it take?

A Garda investigation took barely two months to ascertain the facts and make a judgment.

After 16 months, the HSE is still saying much the same as it did eight months ago — that investigations are time-consuming and that the independent investigation team are cognisant of the need to finalise the investigation as soon as possible.

It is understood that there has been progress, but that certain personalities are not being as helpful as they might be to the investigation team. But again, 16 months? How much longer is Hannah Comber’s family expected to wait?

Even if the investigation is independent, the HSE appointed the team and it must take control of the situation and demand answers are produced immediately.

The time delay in this investigation is a serious issue, but its gravity is magnified by the fact that the HSE’s role is being questioned in yet another nursing home in another part of Munster.

Why is the HSE not carrying out an independent investigation into complaints about Cappahard Lodge in Ennis, where Gerald Finn was cared for before he died?

The 69-year-old father of two had Alzheimer’s disease and angina and had lived in the home since 2005. He died of pneumonia but had been admitted to Ennis General Hospital several times while in care at the public home. His daughters had raised concerns over bruising on his body and over-medication.

The HSE has appointed an independent team to probe “policies and procedures” at the home but is taking the job of examining complaints about the home itself. What transparency can be gained by an organisation in such a position of responsibility policing itself? Can we truly expect satisfactory conclusions? And given the track record at Heatherside, how long will it be before those conclusions are reached?