HSE probe claims of elder abuse at public hospital

THE HSE is investigating claims elderly patients at a public hospital have been physically assaulted by a member of staff.

The allegation was brought to the attention of health service management under trust in care legislation last week, with the latest alleged incident understood to have occurred earlier this month.

The case involves claims by staff members of multiple physical and verbal assaults against patients at Cherry Orchard Hospital in Ballyfermot, west Dublin. The 166-strong facility mainly caters for elderly patients, many of whom have additional conditions such as dementia.

The allegations refer to one member of staff and include reports that he repeatedly kicked a frail pensioner while he was on the ground.

Concerns have also been raised that other elderly pensioners have been beaten and/or bullied by this same member of staff.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner a HSE spokeswoman confirmed the service is “investigating an allegation of elder abuse at Cherry Orchard Hospital in line with trust in care guidelines”.

She said management “will not be making any further comment until such time as the investigation has come to a conclusion” as the full details of the incident have yet to be independently verified.

Trust in care legislation allows for investigations into alleged abuses against patients or health facility residents, and has led to hundreds of cases being examined in recent years.

Confirmation of the claims came after a report from Age Action Ireland found 2,110 elder abuse cases were dealt with by the HSE last year, up 10% on 2009. Of these incidents, gardaí were notified in 283 cases and consulted on 215.