Leas Cross relatives angry over HSE’s failure to apologise for suffering

RELATIVES of elderly people who died in the care of Leas Cross Nursing Home are angry that no one in the Health Service Executive said sorry for the needless suffering of their loved ones.

Nowhere in the state’s 372-page report into the scandal, published yesterday, could they find any sign of contrition by any member of the HSE.

The north Co Dublin home was shut down in August 2005 after an RTÉ undercover investigation disclosed sub-standard care and management deficiencies.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Leas Cross Nursing Home, established by the Government two years ago, found that inspections and complaints going back over a number of years should have alerted the HSE to problems at the home.

Tony Mullins, from Dublin, whose 82-year-old mother, Kitty, died at the facility in February 2004, said it was disgraceful that staff in the HSE could neglect their job and remain anonymous.

“The report confirms abuse, it confirms the absolute incompetence and neglect by the HSE to fulfil its duties,” said Mr Mullins, of the Leas Cross Deaths Relatives Action Group.

He said the report also illustrated the complete lack of accountability within the HSE at all levels.

Mr Mullins also expressed his disgust that the report was released on the same day as the report of An Bord Snip Nua.

“It is, however, ironic that the abuses highlighted in the report happened at a time of plenty, not cutbacks.”

He pointed out that the HSE provided over €7 million to Leas Cross between 1998 and 2005 when it was aware that there were very series deficiencies in the facility.

Age Action Ireland said the vulnerable residents of the Leas Cross nursing home who suffered sub-standard care were seriously betrayed by those responsible for managing the home and regulating standards there.

“The arms of the state responsible for protecting these people let them down, and let them down in a major way,” said Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins.