Hiqa concern for disability centre residents’ dignity

The health watchdog has raised concerns about the privacy and dignity of intellectually disabled residents at homes run by a voluntary organisation in Cheeverstown House, Dublin, where some bedrooms and bathrooms are shared.

Following announced inspections of eight centres last April, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) said in some cases there were insufficient toilets and showers to meet residents’ needs.

Because of multi-functional bathrooms, it happened that residents used a toilet in a cubicle while other residents had a shower behind a curtain in the same room.