A report has revealed that a residential centre in Louth embezzled a disabled man’s money to buy cutlery, furnishings and install a new fireplace.
The Broomfield Center in Louth failed 14 out of 18 tests conducted in September, a recent report by the HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) has revealed.
Inspectors found that the centre, which is run by the St. John of God services, used one resident’s funds to purchase items for the facility.
The resident had no independent representative or next of kin.
HIQA’s inspection took place in September 2015, in which 76 breaches of legislation were found, according to RTE.
An issue inspectors found concerning was the free access from the adult facility, which was home to 22 mentally impaired men, and an adjoining children’s respite service, posing a risk to vulnerable residents.
The inspection also found that in the first eight months of last year, 44 incidents of resident-on-resident abuse had been reported and up to 30 other incidents of abuse/assaults by residents on staff had also been recorded in the same period.
The report said “one resident’s treatment plan included having an antiseptic lotion, with a distinct and strong smell, applied to his skin which distinguished him from others. On enquiry, inspectors found that this practice was being used in the absence of an appropriate review.”
