Gib Govt Accused of “Indifference, Silence and Neglect” Protest tonight, Monday 1st October 2007 8.45pm, outside John Mackintosh Hall A number of past and present employees, senior social services staff and parents of patients, have made serious allegations about abuse at the Dr Giraldi Home. If true, these allegations may constitute gross abuse of patients at the home. To ascertain the facts, families and friends of patients are calling for an independent public inquiry. They are staging a protest outside John Mackintosh Hall tonight, at 8.45pm, as political leaders and members of the public arrive for GBC's televised election debate.
The government of Gibraltar is accused of "indifference, silence and neglect."
Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, is being criticised for "not acting on parents' concerns."
Protesters say that he "bears ultimate responsibility for what happens at the Dr Giraldi Home and that he has, so far, ignored calls for an independent investigation."
The allegations, variously concerning past and present conditions at Dr Giraldi, are unproven, but demand a public inquiry. They include allegations of: insufficient health and safety procedures, poor controls on access to medication, severe understaffing, few employees specifically trained in disability issues or in dealing with challenging behaviour, a substandard fire alarm system, serious medication errors, missing class A drugs, residents left at night unattended, broken wheelchairs, patients' / respite users' personal money unaccounted for, and alleged sexual abuse.
"We are not saying these allegations are true," said Felix Alvarez of equality rights group, GGR, which is co-organising tonight's protest.
"But that they are sufficiently grave to require a thorough-going independent public inquiry. An inquiry would sort fact from fiction.
"Although I have much sympathy for the many caring, compassionate staff members at Dr Giraldi, these allegations may suggest systemic failings.
"The best way to resolve the concerns of parents and staff is for the Chief Minister to authorise a full and frank investigation. We don't understand why he has not done this. It is astonishing that no public inquiry has taken place, despite these allegations having being made, we understand, about three years ago.
"Tonight's protest is not about the on-going Joanna Hernandez industrial tribunal case. It solely concerns the worries felt by the families.
"They understandably want the Chief Minister to authorise a public inquiry to allay their anxieties.
"Neither the families nor anybody else quite understands why the Chief Minister has failed to do this to date. Both the patients and their families deserve justice," said Mr Alvarez.
http://www.vox.gi/Local/Gib_Govt_Accused_of_Indifference_Silence_Neglect01102007.html 
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