SIPTU has expressed disappointment with the failure of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to seek input from relevant staff members before publishing an inspection report on the St. Anne’s Centre for people with intellectual disabilities, Roscrea, County Tipperary. SIPTU Organiser, Mark Lohan, said: “SIPTU representatives are studying the report at the moment and will discuss it in full with our members before making an informed comment on its contents. “SIPTU members will work positively with management to address any perceived shortcomings in service provision. However, it is most disappointing that the report was published without any input whatsoever from members of staff against whom allegations of failures in care have been made. Referring to media speculation concerning allegations of failures in care at the centre made in December 2014, Mark Lohan, added: “Following referral by the employer of these allegations to the Gardaí for investigation, it has been confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has closed the file after finding that there is no case to answer. “Any SIPTU members, against whom allegations were made, have co-operated in full with another investigation by an independent expert and we await his findings which are due shortly. SIPTU will not comment on this investigation until the outcome is known. “The period since these allegations emerged has been a trying and upsetting period for staff, service users, their families and the local community. SIPTU members can only deal with the established facts, which are that the Garda investigation concluded without any charges and that the outcome of an independent review by an external expert into these allegations is awaited.”
SIPTU members disappointed with publication of report on St. Anne’s centre
