A patient advocacy group has claimed that not enough is being done by those in the healthcare system to highlight the issue of physical or sexual abuse of patients.
The Dignity 4 Patients group was reacting to figures from the HSE that show there were 88 claims of abuse made against staff during the last two years.
The figures from the HSE covering 2008 and 2009 were released under the Freedom of Information Act.
They showed that of the 88 complaints of abuse, 11 were upheld and 18 were the subject of ongoing investigations.
The confirmed instances of abuse took place in hospitals, private homes and in the community services at various locations around the country.
Dignity 4 Patients said it believed the figures did not show the true extent of the levels of abuse in the healthcare system.
According to Bernadette Sullivan from the group, the issue of abuse was not just one for the HSE, but for everyone involved in the wider healthcare system.
She said having talked to those working there she believed there was a complete lack of awareness and education on the issue of abuse of patients.
The HSE said that it has a series of procedures and protocols in place to protect patients, clients and staff.
It also said it continually strives to ensure that all workers adhere to the highest standards of care and the organisation’s code of conduct.
