Disability centre Áras Attracta ‘still failing its residents’
The unannounced Hiqa probe took place in January following the broadcast of graphic footage on RTÉ in December showing the ill-treatment of the patients in one of the bungalows in the centre.
Inspectors who visited the Swinford centre in the middle of January found evidence of good practice in some area but also identified significant care breaches.
The inspectors, who spent four days at the centre, found:
- Some residents’ privacy and dignity was not supported.
- Some staff did not engage with residents in a respectful manner.
- Measures to protect residents from harm and abuse were not implemented in all areas of the centre.
Unsafe medication practices were also found. One inspector intervened on two occasions to prevent a medical error.
The inspectors also found that some parts of the centre, including a kitchenette, was dirty.
At different time, inspectors noticed a strong smell of urine in two of the bungalows.
The inspectors saw some residents smoking unsupervised and one resident was seen falling onto a wet floor.
Crucially, residents had not been provided with a written contract to cover their support, care and welfare.
Deputy chief executive of the Disability Federation of Ireland, Allen Dunne, said it was “extremely disappointing and disturbing” to read of the continued lack of appropriate care and support for the residents of Áras Attracta.
Age Action spokesperson, Eamon Timmins, expressed alarm that serious issues identified in the television documentary had not been addressed.
“The HSE is continuing to fail these residents and breach the trust placed in them by their families.”
Inclusion Ireland, chief executive, Paddy Connolly, said the inspection report showed that very basic standards of care were still not being met at Áras Attracta.
Chief executive of asiam.ie, an advocacy organisation for those affected by autism, said Áras Attracta and cases like it suggested that some people maintained an attitude, perhaps unintentionally, that people with disabilities were worthy of lower living standards and care.
Last December, the HSE announced a range of measures to prevent a recurrence of “unacceptable practices” that occurred at Áras Attracta.
Last night, it said following the Hiqa inspection in January, a series of “corrective steps” were taken over the last three months including the appointment of 27 additional staff “which has increased social activities both on site and in the community”.
It said an “improvement and development programme” was also underway
“This includes the establishment of a new governance structure led by a new director of service.”
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