Disability care standards will not be made statutory

NEW national residential disability care standards will not be given the full force of law because of a lack of funding, the Minister of State with special responsibility for Equality, Disability and Mental Health admitted yesterday.

John Moloney said that given the current “fiscal situation” it was not proposed to move to full statutory implementation of the standards, including regulation and inspection, at this time. Mr Moloney was welcoming the publication of the new standards by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

He pointed out that “progressive implementation” of the standards would be commenced on a non-statutory basis in all publicly-funded facilities in order to maintain the drive for improving the quality and safety of services.

“The initial focus will be on achieving better outcomes within the existing physical infrastructure and current staffing and revenue levels,” he said.

The minister added that there would be further discussions between his office, HIQA, and the Health Service Executive about how best to introduce, within available resources, an appropriate form of external monitoring of the quality of residential services for people with disabilities.

There are currently around 1,200 residential care facilities in Ireland. Around 80% of disability services are provided by voluntary bodies.

The new standards outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person with a disability, his or her family and the public can expect to receive from residential care services.

They were developed following consultation with representatives of those who use the service, their families and advocates and support groups, together with those who provide and deliver the service.

Inclusion Ireland chief executive Deirdre Carroll said she had “mixed emotions” about the launch of the standards that her organisation had been seeking for 14 years.

While she was delighted there were now national standards of care, she was disappointed that there was no target date given for establishing them on a statutory basis.

The HSE said it had initiated discussions with providers that aim to implement the draft standards as soon as possible.

It said providers would be required, under service arrangements with the health authority, to provide feedback on a regular basis on progress in relation to compliance.

“The initial focus will be on improving standards of quality and care within current resources and existing physical infrastructure,” the HSE stated.

The health authority is now working on a new contract arrangement with service providers that will emphasise the agencies’ responsibilities in relation to quality and risk management.