Vulnerable adults waiting up to 18 months for safeguarding assessment 

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy hit out at the 'postcode lottery' to which patients and vulnerable people are subjected in accessing services and assessments depending on where they live in the country. File picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

Almost 500 vulnerable adults are awaiting assessment from the HSE's safeguarding and protection team, it has emerged.

The HSE has confirmed a backlog across parts of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow means some residents of disability and older persons' services have been waiting since March of last year to have their safeguarding plans reviewed.