Belfast Care home residents suffer "inhuman and degrading" treament
Elderly dementia sufferers were physically and sexually assaulted at Dunmurry Manor
Last updated 14th Jun 2018
Residents with dementia at a Belfast care home were subjected to “a horrific catalogue of inhuman and degrading treatment” a damning report revealed today.
‘Home Truths’ a 101-page document was compiled by the Commissioner for Older People after an investigation into Dunmurry Manor Care Home.
The probe uncovered a series of “disturbing” findings including some residents suffering from both physical and sexual assaults.
Commissioner Eddie Lynch said “nothing prepared him” for what he found.
“When a loved one is in a care home we expect them to be provided with good food, adequate drinks, and kept safe from harm, physical and sexual assault. It makes me extremely angry that this was certainly not the case for everyone living in Dunmurry Manor,” he added.
“I found that some residents who were extremely vulnerable, living with dementia, experienced a horrific catalogue of inhuman and degrading treatment, with many spending their last few months living in appalling circumstances.
“There were significant failures in the safeguarding and care of many residents in Dunmurry Manor, with residents suffering harm through physical and sexual assaults.
“My investigation found that many of these terrible incidents occurred during periods of time when the regulator, the RQIA, reported the home to be meeting the required standards of care.
“Despite the regulator carrying out 23 inspections in a 39 month period, they did not find the extent of the problems experienced by many residents.”
Mr Lynch had strong words for the home and its parent company, Runwood Homes Ltd.
He said there was a failure by them to respond to the concerns identified by staff, relatives, and some inspections.
“This was compounded by a failure of statutory agencies to act to protect the basic human rights of residents and their families,” he said.
Mr Lynch said the report makes 59 recommendations for improvement in a bid to ensure such problems never recur.
“I am angry that this problem is not a new one,” he said.
“Over three years ago the previous Commissioner advised Government that a whole-system change to the culture of care provision in care home settings was required.
“Much of that change has still not happened. We have seen the devastating consequence of inaction and lessons must be learnt.
“I am making 59 recommendations for change to the way care is commissioned and monitored; to the regulation and inspection of care homes and how complaints from families are handled.
“I have presented my report to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley MP and the Head of the Civil Service, David Sterling in his capacity as the secretary to the currently suspended Executive Committee. These recommendations seek to improve care and bring about significant change within the system, in the hope that the failings found within Dunmurry Manor will never be repeated again.”
Earlier in the week, the Department of Health this week published two reports, one of which looked at the home's current standards of care and said "during the visits Dunmurry was assessed as being a safe place for people to live quality lives."
In a statement today in response to the Commissioner’s findings, the Department of Health said it would consider ‘Home Truths’ “very carefully and provide a formal, comprehensive response.”
“COPNI had alerted us during its investigation to areas of concern and we commissioned independent assessments, with a particular focus on the present day standard of care at Dunmurry Manor,” the statement said.
“We published the two independent assessments this week, providing assurance to residents and their families on current care standards. The second report detailed the work by RQIA to ensure the implementation of necessary improvements.
“Having secured these assurances on current standards of care, we can concentrate on a detailed examination of COPNI’s findings and recommendations."
Meanwhile, in a statement the regulatory body, RQIA said it, too, would “carefully consider” the report and provide a full response in due course.
It added: “This report reflects the experiences of the residents, carers and families who submitted evidence to this investigation, and we recognise the distress they have experienced. We accept that only a small number of Dunmurry Manor relatives chose to contact RQIA with their concerns. We have taken steps to increase our visibility in care settings, to ensure we hear and take account of these voices.
“The key responsibility for providing safe and effective care in every care setting rests with the service provider. Health and social care trusts and the HSC Board also play a key role in the oversight and monitoring of the care they commission in care homes. We routinely inspect all care homes, and when problems arise, residents and their families can be assured that RQIA will intervene on their behalf."
The ‘Home Truths’ report which includes resident case studies can be read in full via link (below)