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A RANGE OF measures have been announced by the HSE to address the serious claims of abuse made against staff as part of tonight’s harrowing RTÉ documentary about the Áras Attracta care home.
The report, broadcast tonight as part of ‘Prime Time’ shows women residents of the home being hit, kicked and threatened by staff.
The footage, which was captured with hidden cameras, also shows one of the residents — a woman in her 50s with serious intellectual disabilities — being dragged across the floor, after being denied permission to sit in her favourite chair.
“Such standards should not and will not be tolerated,” Director General of the HSE Tony O’Brien said in response to the programme.
Nine staff members have been suspended from work in recent weeks, after the claims were reported to the HSE and the Gardaí.
Christy Lynch, CEO of disability support agency KARE, has been appointed by the HSE to head up an investigation into the home — along with three other legal and medical experts.
Additionally:
A full assurance review has also been commissioned of all of the Units in the Aras Attracta facility under the independent chairmanship of Dr Kevin McCoy, assisted by 3 experts within the field and independent of the HSE.
A “system-wide programme of measures” has also been launched to ensure all 908 residential centres for people with disabilities are in line with HIQA standards.
And a ‘national summit’ will take place next Tuesday, the 16th — focusing on initiatives to “improve Client Safety, Dignity, Respect & Culture Change”.
“Much of what was viewed on Primetime falls well below the standards that we expect in the health services,” Tony O’Brien said.
“At the centre of many of these examples of poor practice is individual responsibility of staff members.
“I urge all members of staff of the HSE, without fear or favour, to blow the whistle on any instance of misconduct, disrespect, or abuse towards residents, clients, patients or any service user should they ever witness it.”
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That’s a shame to hear. I used to love reading Montague’s poetry for the Leaving Cert and sure enough he showed when I needed him on the big day. A dolmen round my childhood. R.I.P.
The light, tarred skin
of the currach rides
and receives the current,
rolls and responds to
the harsh sea swell.
Inside the wooden ribs
a slithering frenzy; a sheen
of black-barred silver-
green and flailing mackerel:
the iridescent hoop
of a gasping sea trout.
As a fish gleams most
fiercely before it dies,
so the scales of the sea-hag
shine with a hectic
putrescent glitter:
luminous, bleached—
white water—
that light in the narrows
before a storm breaks. ………RIP John Montague
Hey diddle diddle The cat did a piddle, All over the kitchen mat, The little dog laughed to see such fun, And piddled all over the cat.
@michael o’brien
“The disappointed cat / Reflected in the glass / Reflects on where it’s at / And that it shall not pass.” I made up that one last week when the cat was trying to get out the kitchen window and I closed it in time. Suppose Poet’s Corner’s safe from us both Michael. RIP Mr Montague filíocht mór. Ar dheish Dé go raibh a anam.
@john o Driscoll,I like your poem John,I always liked poems that rhymed.No harm havin a bit of a sense of humour.
The rhymes the thing for many Michael. And a sense of humour carries us a long way past where we’d otherwise give up always. But beat and rhythm, imagery and sense don’t necessarily need to rhyme though they should always scan imo. Was thinking as I wrote that how the real cat in the kitchen appeared also to be outside on the window ledge at the same time (it being dark outside as in Country dark) as he gazed at his reflection, a photon cat observing a molecular cat or vice Versa.
And thought of calling the insta-ditty “An answer to Schrodinger” but immediately thought it pseud and overly clever-clogs and reading this haven’t changed opinion. That’s why great poets like Montague are great; regardless of rhyme or the absence there of. Their poetry is real, not pretentious or forced. It blows the heart wide open with apols to Mr Heaney.
I always found poetry difficult, until I discovered JOHN Montegue….you Sir, deciphered poetry for me, where others shrouded it in obscure meaning. For that, I THANK YOU. May you Rest In Peace.
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