<p>
	Independent whistleblowing service received 220 contacts, an 85 per cent increase on 2015</p>
<p>
	Complaints to the independent whistleblowing service for the HSE&rsquo;s treatment of vulnerable adults almost doubled last year.</p>
<p>
	However, the number of complaints alleging abuse to independent confidential recipient Leigh Gath dropped, her second annual report shows.</p>
<p>
	Ms Gath was appointed in December 2014 after the HSE published a policy on safeguarding vulnerable people at risk of abuse.</p>
<p>
	Last year, she received 220 concerns and complaints, of which 199 have been &ldquo;closed out&rdquo;, according to the report.</p>
<p>
	This represents an 85 per cent increase over 2015 but there was a reduction in the number of safeguarding concerns from 54 to 41.</p>
<p>
	These included allegations of physical, sexual, psychological, financial and institutional abuse, as well as neglect and discrimination.</p>
<p>
	Ms Gath&rsquo;s role is to receive and examine concerns and to provide help and advice to vulnerable adults, or anyone concerned about a vulnerable adult, in a HSE or HSE funded service.</p>
<p>
	Eighty per cent of the complaints she received last year related to the social care division of the HSE, while 13 per cent related to mental health services.</p>
<p>
	Ms Gath said her role was to act as a voice for complainants and to help them navigate the system.</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;I have also been contacted by many people simply seeking advice or support, which is encouraging.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	(Published by the Irish Times on the 9th March 2017)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/complaints-to-hse-over-treatment-of-vulnerable-adults-surge-1.3003960">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/complaints-to-hse-over-treatment-of-vulnerable-adults-surge-1.3003960</a></p>
