HIQA Report Critical Of Wicklow Care Home.

Vulnerable people with intellectual disabilities felt unsafe in group care homes run by a Co Wicklow organisation

Vulnerable people with intellectual disabilities felt unsafe in group care homes run by a Co Wicklow organisation where the State’s healthcare watchdog warned some practices could amount to “institutional abuse”.

Sunbeam House Services, which runs 27 residential homes for people with disabilities, on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is the subject of a scathing report by healthcare inspectors. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found multiple cases where residents were left in harm’s way or at increased risk of abuse, despite warnings, causing serious psychological distress.The highly critical Hiqa report, published today said Sunbeam House was not doing enough to keep residents safe from abuse in its care homes.

About 100 people with intellectual disabilities are living in State-funded group homes run by Sunbeam House, across Co Wicklow and south Dublin.