FUNDING FOR an organisation that supports victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by healthcare workers has been halved.
Dignity4Patients said the cut would put some victims at serious risk and cause additional suffering and distress to most.
The support group was founded by Bernadette Sullivan, a nurse who helped disclose alleged sexual abuse of patients in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Co Louth. Since 2008, it has supported more than 300 patients who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of healthcare workers. Its services include a helpline, advocacy and counselling.
Dignity4Patients secured funding of €170,000 from the Department of Health last year through a one-off payment from the National Lottery fund. The money was given so it could work specifically with those involved in the Our Lady of Lourdes case. The charity has since been petitioning for permanent funding.
In a statement yesterday, it said it was allocated only €69,000 after a request for more funding. Ms Sullivan said Minister for Health James Reilly had given a clear message that the funding was “strictly a once-off” for 2011.
“The impact this will have on those who were benefiting from these services and the vital role that our presence plays in uncovering the abuse of patients in the Irish health system is very worrying,” she said.
The group had been instructed its limited funding was to be spent on a helpline and website only.
“We believe it is impractical and even unethical to offer a helpline without any follow-on care.”
Ms Sullivan urged the Minister to provide ongoing core funding.
A department spokesman said services delivered by the HSE covered many of the areas Dignity4Patients sought a grant to provide and the Minister urged the group to work with the HSE.
He said the group had also applied for HSE funding and the Minister was satisfied the HSE would take the organisation’s “role and capacity” into full account when considering that application.
