HIQA criticises standards at Ballydowd Special Care Unit

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) said today that it is unsatisfactory that a child under the care of the Ballydowd Special Care Unit in Lucan, Co Dublin was separated from other children, in unsuitable accommodation, for six months.

HIQA carried out an inspection of the SCU and found that the child was living in accommodation that was unsuitable in terms of size and sparseness.

HIQA carried out this review last December, based on recommendations from a clinical team.

It found a number of issues where standards of care were not being fully met.

One child in particular was separated from other children for six months because the unit could not meet their needs.

HIQA also says the separation was not described properly, and therefore was not subject to Department of Health and Children guidelines.

It said that it was unacceptable that the placing social work department did not move the child to a more appropriate placement within an acceptable period of time.