A recent HIQA report on a residential centre in Monaghan for children with disabilities has found that two residents, who both required a wheelchair, had been confined to the first floor of the centre for twenty-five days due to a broken lift.
The inspection was unannounced and carried out at Woodbrook Lodge in Monaghan to monitor the safety and quality of the service being provided to three residents living in the centre
Woodbrook operated by MMC Children's Services Limited is a residential centre which can provide medium to long-term care for four residents under 18 years of age, who present with complex physical and emotional needs.
As a result of the lift being out of order this meant that neither of the children had been able to attend school, and one had missed a necessary appointment. The inspection was carried out on the 25th of January and the report was published on the 8th of May.
Subsequent to the inspection, the registered provider contacted the inspector to inform them, that the lift had also been out of service from the 27th of July to the 29th of August last year This meant that in the past seven months two residents were confined to the first floor of the home for a total of 59 days.
HIQA said the provider had not responded appropriately to either incident and had not put in place alternative arrangements. It also highlighted how the provider failed to notify HIQA with regard to the matter and it was therefore not aware of the impact it had on residents on both occasions.
Meanwhile, Cavan Monaghan Sinn Fein TD and party spokesperson on disability and carers Deputy Pauline Tully said the findings of the report are both disturbing and unacceptable. She added how she cannot fathom that children with disabilities were left confined to bedrooms for weeks at the local residential centre.
