HSE: Services for child sex abuse victims have improved

The Health Service Executive says its services for victims of child sexual abuse have improved significantly since an 11-year-old girl first alleged she had been raped in 2006.

The way the health authority dealt with the case was heavily criticised by the Ombudsman for Children in a damning report published yesterday.

The HSE said improvements include the assignment of additional social workers and dedicated sexual assault treatment units, now available on a 24-hour basis with access to female consultants.

The child who made allegations of sexual abuse, was forced to wait more than two months before she was examined by a medical specialist.

Ombudsman Emily Logan said the HSE displayed “administrative inefficiency” in arranging the medical examination to ensure the child was physically well.

“By the time the child saw a medical specialist it was a two-month delay which was very significant given the traumatic experience the child had and the trauma for the family,” she said.

The HSE says it has accepted and is currently implementing the recommendations made by the Ombudsman.

The health authority says it follows Ireland’s national guidelines for the safety and well-being of children, Children First, that was published in 2011 and sets out clear standards to promote the safety and well-being of children.

“Standardised business processes for social workers have been introduced to ensure a consistent national response to reports of child abuse,” it says.

“The HSE works in partnership, under agreed protocols, with An Garda Síochána to ensure that allegations of child abuse are investigated in accordance with statute and in compliance with Children First.

“The HSE is committed to supporting those affected to resolve any outstanding issues they may have and will not be commenting further at this time.”

The authority offers counselling, support, and services to anyone who has disclosed alleged abuse and liaises with other statutory agencies and relevant organisations to protect children at all times.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) has urged the HSE and the new Child and Family Agency to take immediate action to ensure adequate and timely responses and 24-hour supports to children and their families.

It says the agency must ensure that all staff are trained and supported to adequately respond to families following disclosures of alleged abuse and that the provision of practical, accessible and timely information must be included.

Sinn Fein's spokesperson on Children, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said that while the case dated back to 2006/2007 and the HSE said it was implementing the Ombudsman’s recommendations, assurances were needed from the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, that all the recommendations were being swiftly implemented.

“Crucially, we need to see the resources put in place to ensure that children are fully supported,” he said.