Leas Cross report to be published

The long-awaited Leas Cross report will be published by the Health Service Executive today.

The north Dublin nursing home was shut down in July 2005 following an undercover RTE investigation.

Secret cameras showing the treatment of patients caused a public outcry and the Dáil heard calls for strict regulation of the sector.

Residents were later transferred to other homes and Health Minister Mary Harney commissioned a report on Leas Cross by consultant geriatrician Prof Des O’Neill.

The report is highly critical of poor standards of care at the nursing home and of the role of the HSE and the former Eastern Regional Health Authority.

The document also criticises the level of medical and nursing cover at Leas Cross.

Publication has been delayed for several weeks because the HSE insisted on allowing submissions from individuals mentioned in the text. Leaked extracts have already appeared in the media.