On the occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, HIQA calls for the introduction of national adult safeguarding legislation to protect at risk adults from abuse and exploitation.

In a submission to the Law Reform Commission’s consultation on ‘A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding’, HIQA stresses that adult safeguarding legislation must be made a priority by the incoming Government. In the paper, HIQA makes observations on the existing approach to adult safeguarding in Ireland and suggests a number of improvements that can be made.

HIQA also strongly supports the implementation of a statutory regime for the regulation of homecare services to enhance and improve the care and support delivered to adults at risk in their own homes.

HIQA CEO Phelim Quinn said: “We all have a right to be safe and to live a life free from harm. Safeguarding means putting measures in place to reduce the risk of harm, to promote people’s human rights and their health and wellbeing, and to empower people to protect themselves. Over the past 10 years, HIQA has highlighted issues of abuse and exploitation within health and social services and in doing so, has uncovered deficiencies in how we in Ireland respond to abuse.

“On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, I would like to reiterate HIQA’s call for the development of national adult safeguarding legislation for the health sector. Placing adult safeguarding on a statutory footing acknowledges the State’s commitment to adults at risk and the duty of civil society to adopt a zero tolerance approach to adult abuse. Safeguarding is fundamental to high-quality health and social care.”

The new 2019 National Standards for Adult Safeguarding, developed by HIQA and the Mental Health Commission, provide a framework for best practice in safeguarding adults in health and social care services in Ireland. These standards recognise that any adult may be at risk of harm as a result of circumstances and or a condition and may need help to protect themselves at any point in their lives.

HIQA’s submission to the Law Reform Commission’s consultation on ‘A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding’ can be found at the link above.

For further information on HIQA’s work in the area of adult safeguarding, visit our National Standards for Adult Safeguarding page.

Ends.

For further information please contact:

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
085 8055202
mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to the editor:

• HIQA develops standards, inspects and reviews health and social care services and supports informed decisions on how services are delivered. HIQA aims to support services to safeguard people and improve the safety and quality of health and social care services across its full range of functions.
• HIQA is a member of Safeguarding Ireland, the multiagency and inter-sectoral body with an overarching remit of supporting the development of a societal and organisational culture that promotes the rights of people who may be at risk of harm, and safeguards them from abuse.
• The National Standards for Adult Safeguarding and supporting resources can be found at this link.