<p>
	Almost 1,800 allegations of suspected or confirmed abuse of people living in centres for adults and children with disabilities were reported last year.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	In its annual overview report for 2015 on the regulation of such centres, the Health and Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) said regulation has brought a cultural change to the sector and has &ldquo;steadily led to improvements&rdquo; in the standard of care provided to residents.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Hiqa said that, in 2014, initial inspections showed a lack of understanding within the sector on how to meet the requirements of the regulations and the standards.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	In particular, it found that residents living in many large congregated settings were not being &ldquo;adequately protected or kept safe&rdquo;. These institutionalised care practices that had been ongoing for years were having an adverse impact on the quality of life for residents, it reported.</p>
<p>
	However, Hiqa said the inspection process had contributed to a greater understanding of the poor standard of care and support in some large, congregated settings.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;This has been recognised by the Government, and in 2016 there was a commitment of resources to escalate the movement of residents from inappropriate, congregated setting to more appropriate living arrangements,&rdquo; said the report.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Hiqa inspected 561 of the 937 designated centres for adults and mixed centres for adults and children with disabilities in 2015. There were 741 inspections in total.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Overall, Hiqa inspectors found evidence of a high standard of care in 2015, with some providers found to provide an excellent standard of care.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Of inspection reports published in 2015, 49 inspections did not identify any actions required while a further 208 inspections required less than 10 actions.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	However, Hiqa pointed out that it was forced to take formal enforcement procedures in respect of four centres during 2015.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	In one of the centres, it applied to the court to cancel the registration of the centre. The HSE then became responsible for the operation of the centre.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Hiqa applied to the court to have additional restrictive conditions on the registration of three other centres.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	During 2015, providers submitted 10,422 notifications to Hiqa relating to incidents and concerns about centres for adults and mixed adults and children with disabilities.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Of these, 1,799 related to any allegation, suspected or confirmed, of abuse of any resident with 1,310 referring to any serious injury to a resident which required immediate medical or hospital treatment.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Fianna F&aacute;il spokeswoman on disability, Margaret Murphy O&rsquo;Mahony, said the report highlighted that speedier action was needed in relation to people with disabilities living in a congregated settings.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;The recommendations made through the 2011 HSE report on congregated settings are yet to be implemented. This Hiqa report again recommends that &lsquo;congregated settings&rsquo;, or institutions with 10 residents or more, should be replaced with supported placements in the community,&rdquo; said the Cork South West TD.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s estimated that approximately 3,000 people with a disability were living in congregated settings as of December 2014. Not much has been achieved in moving people into a community-based environment since then.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 15th July 2016)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hiqa-1800-abuse-claims-in-one-year-410412.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hiqa-1800-abuse-claims-in-one-year-410412.html</a></p>
