Local adult abuse allegations more than treble in three years
THE number of allegations of abuse against vulnerable adults in the Southern Board area, which includes Dungannon District, have more than trebled in the past three years.
This year there have been 854 new safeguarding adult referrals across the local area, a steep rise from 235 in 2010.
The Southern Board had the steepest rise of all the North’s health boards. The Western Board had the lowest increase in referrals, rising from 148 in 2010 to 244 this year.
A spokesperson for the Southern Board said a new computerised system had been introduced in July to improve the reporting of adult safeguarding activity. She said: “The Southern Trust is committed to protecting vulnerable adults in our community. The number of incidents reported to the Trust continues to rise, year on year. We would like to point out that not all referrals on adult safeguarding will necessarily result in or require the development of a protection plan.
“A number of referrals are screened out of the process and a number of cases are of a specific duration and are closed within a short time period. Between April 2011 and March 2012, 854 adult safeguarding referrals were received by the Southern Trust and 14 protection plans were implemented.
“Whilst abuse in any form is abhorrent and treated very seriously, increased reporting can also mean an increased awareness of issues relating to all types of abuse of vulnerable people, ways to recognise abuse and advice on what to do if people suspect someone is being abused.
“The Trust is a partner organisation in the Southern Local Adult Safeguarding Partnership and works alongside other key agencies from the statutory, independent and service user sector to highlight vulnerable adult abuse.”
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Weather for Dungannon
Monday 20 May 2013
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