Residents at care home punished with fines

Residents at a centre for people with disabilities were punished through the removal of personal items, restrictions on food, and the issuing of fines. Hiqa has ordered that the practices be stopped immediately, writes Noel Baker.

The unannounced inspection of Highwater Lodge, in Wexford, which is operated by Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited, was conducted in response to a notification to Hiqa of serious injury, and to monitor progress towards the agreed actions from a previous inspection, last July.