Health authorities planned to close a public nursing home at the centre of an inquiry into standards of care almost a decade ago because it was proving difficult to provide adequate levels of care for patients.
Documents seen by The Irish Timesshow that eastern health board officials, now the Health Service Executive (HSE), were concerned in 1999 about the physical condition of St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park.
In particular, there was concern over access to fire escapes and the large size of wards in the building, part of which dates back to 1769. Officials recommended closing it and building a replacement hospital. The documents show there were also plans to close two other long-stay institutions in Dublin, Brú Chaoimhín on Cork Street, and St Brigid's Home, Crooksling. These are still operating.
St Mary's is Dublin's largest public long-stay institution for older people and provides services for 320 residents who range from older people with dementia to the physically disabled.
The HSE confirmed that an investigation is under way into allegations relating to the mistreatment of patients at St Mary's by an independent committee. The claims have come mainly from a former staff member, Tom Whelehan, who worked as a porter in the hospital until 2003.
Among the allegations are that:
• A resident in a wheelchair, suffering from dementia, had tape put across her mouth by a staff member to keep her quiet;
• A staff member forced a patient to sleep in a wheelchair while he slept in the patient's bed;
• A staff member entertained a visitor within the hospital and an abuse of alcohol occurred.
Health authorities have also commissioned an evaluation into the standard of care to be completed within two months.
The HSE said the incidents occurred some years ago and were dealt with "immediately and appropriately at that time and the appropriate steps were taken".
Yesterday, Mr Whelehan rejected this and said he had little confidence in health authorities, as his concerns were initially met with a hostile reception.
Speaking on RTÉ, Dr Dermot Power, a consultant geriatrician at St Mary's, defended the facility. He said: "I know that care standards in St Mary's are excellent both from a medical, nursing and care-attendant point of view.
"We have to say, the medics, nurses and care attendants, that we feel let down by this sequence of events. I can reassure people that this was something that happened in the past and was dealt with in the past.
However, he added: "We feel everyday let down by the environment in which we find ourselves. I think some people have referred to it as Victorian. It's even older than that - it's Georgian."
