Garda probe launched into alleged 'assault' of nursing home resident following report
Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault at a nursing home run by controversial provider Emeis Ireland on the foot of complaints from an unidentified resident's family, Extra.ie can reveal.
Watchdog Hiqa has also referred concerns over the standard of care being provided in Emeis nursing homes to An Garda Síochána, which could result in further investigations into the company.
It comes after revelations in an RTÉ Investigates programme about two nursing homes – Beneavin Manor in Dublin and The Residence Portlaoise – both run by the for-profit company. Beneavin Manor nursing home in Glasnevin, Co Dublin. PIC Sam Boal/Collins Photos
A Garda spokeswoman confirmed to Extra.ie yesterday that the force is investigating an alleged assault at one of Emeis Ireland's homes following 'complaints received from a family relative of an older person'.
It is understood that the resident in question is located in one of the two facilities featured in the RTÉ documentary. Extra.ie also understands that gardaí examined whether potential law breaches had occurred before launching a full investigation.
'An Garda Síochána has already started an investigation into alleged assault following complaints received from a family relative of an older person,' a spokeswoman said. Pic: RTÉ
Hiqa will today tell members of the Oireachtas Health Committee that staff working in facilities operated by Emeis, which were the subject of the damning RTÉ documentary, knowingly ignored proper standards of care.
'It was clear that staff knew what they should do but were not doing it,' Hiqa chief Angela Fitzgerald will tell the committee today.
Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea, operates over 25 nursing homes across Ireland. The documentary shows staff at the nursing homes aggressively manhandling residents, leaving them dressed in inappropriate incontinence wear, leaving them unchanged for hours at a time, and being discovered in wet clothing after they had wet themselves. anaiste Simon Harris speaking to the media. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Revelations have elicited emotive responses from families and criticism from politicians. They have also raised questions over the effectiveness of Hiqa in regulating the nursing home sector.
Senior Government figures, including Tánaiste Simon Harris, have previously called for the treatment of older people in the care of two Emeis facilities to be investigated by gardaí.
Asked about concerns flagged by Hiqa, the Garda spokeswoman added: 'When a referral is made to An Garda Síochána on such a matter, it is first examined to establish if there is a potential breach(es) of the law that can be investigated.' HIQA CEO Angela Fitzgerald. Pic: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos
Hiqa chief Ms Fitzgerald will say today that the way staff treated residents in the two Emeis facilities 'constitutes a breach of basic human rights which can never be condoned'.
'The conduct of staff and the behaviours witnessed were wholly unacceptable in any circumstance,' she will say. I understand that the decision to place a loved one in long-term care is an incredibly difficult and emotional one.
'A nursing home is a place entrusted by families and the wider public to take care of our older citizens who have made their contribution to society and who have a right to be taken care of with dignity and respect.' The Residence, Portlaoise. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
She will tell TDs that Hiqa has conducted unannounced inspections in Beneavin Manor and The Residence, Portlaoise, over the past two weeks.
Emeis has been issued with an official warning of cancellation of registration should it fail to implement significant improvements, while the other 23 homes operated by the firm will also be assessed. Hiqa has also notified the gardaí about 'our concerns on the care deficits observed' in the RTÉ programme.
Extra.ie understands that the watchdog has yet to receive any confirmation that their concerns are being investigated. Ms Fitzgerald will tell TDs that 'immature management systems' and 'a poor culture that resulted in entirely unacceptable practices' drove the 'wholly unacceptable' level of care delivered in the two nursing homes.
'It was clear staff knew what they should do but were not doing it,' Ms Fitzgerald will say, noting that 'cultural factors may not be readily visible on inspection or by families'.
Hiqa has committed to reviewing its mechanisms and processes for identifying potential poor culture, the watchdog's boss will add.
'The recent RTÉ Investigates was incredibly distressing and I want to apologise to anyone who feels let down by Hiqa as the regulator,' Ms Fitzgerald will say. 'What we witnessed in the programme should never have happened, and I hope that this can be a catalyst for change at a number of levels.'
Minister for Older People Kieran O'Donnell will also appear before the Health Committee today. The Fine Gael TD has already been furnished with an interim report into Hiqa's investigation into all nursing homes operated by Emeis, which will likely be the subject of scrutiny at the committee hearing.
Reacting to RTÉ's exposé, Mr O'Donnell described care provided to Emeis residents as 'extremely distressing' and 'wholly unacceptable'.
The Garda investigation comes after Tánaiste Simon Harris last week urged a referral be made to gardaí, 'because what I saw with my own two eyes, the haunting scenes of people being, in my view, physically assaulted in their home…'
Emeis Ireland did not respond to a request for comment, but previously apologised to all residents and their families.
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