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"I've seen people go around like zombies" - Relative of Redwood resident speaks out

A damning new report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) into anothe...
Newstalk
Newstalk

11.27 12 Dec 2014


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"I've seen peo...

"I've seen people go around like zombies" - Relative of Redwood resident speaks out

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.27 12 Dec 2014


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A damning new report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) into another care home was released yesterday.

The practice of physically restraining clients at a centre in Co Meath for people with intellectual disabilities is being heavily criticised within the report.

An inspection carried out by HIQA shows a high number of frequent and intensive physical interventions and restrictive measures were used in the Redwood Extended Care Facility in Stamullen on a regular basis.

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HIQA says it was notified of 772 such incidents in an eleven-month period.

The high level of restrictive practice and restraint used included locked doors - both internally and doors that exited the centre - and residents being confined to specific rooms, sometimes for significant periods of time.

This morning, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to two women who claim their loved ones were subject to inappropriate care while residing in the centre.

Maeve Kennedy’s brother Eamon was born with a mental disability and Linda Kletzander’s son Anthony has non –verbal autism and is 26. The spoke to Chris Donoghue about the conditions their family members were living in with Linda stating that her son was "denied his freedom" and medicated:

Meanwhile, the Justice Minister has called on anyone who has information on potential cases of abuse of children or elderly people in care to bring it forward.

Frances Fitzgerald was responding to the HIQA report into the Redwood facility in Co Meath - which found there was a significant denial of residents' civil, legal and human rights.

She says the State can't tolerate vulnerable people being placed in abusive or dangerous situations.

Minister Fitzgerald says failures at any care facility for children or the elderly must be brought forward.


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