Policy proposals on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector in Ireland

The policy, when finalised by the Department of Health, will aim to strengthen the safeguarding of adults who may at particular times be at risk of abuse in all public, private and voluntary healthcare services and social care services in Ireland. Measures expected to be adopted include fostering a strengthened culture of safeguarding in all relevant services; strengthening governance arrangements for health and social care services; and introducing new legislation including provisions for protection orders, for statutory duties on health and social care staff to safeguard at-risk adults against abuse and for statutory duties on services and agencies to cooperate and share information to the extent necessary to protect a relevant person against abuse or harm.