Nurses have launched a major new campaign aimed at improving services for people with intellectual disabilities.

The 'Campaign for Excellence in Intellectual Disability Services' has been launched by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) in response to major cutbacks in this area in recent years.

The INMO noted that in the last year, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has issued a number of reports which have shown that the HSE and service providers in this area are failing to meet its standards.

Problems include ineffective leadership, insufficient staffing, inadequate responses to allegations or disclosures of suspected abuse, and inappropriate living facilities.

The INMO emphasised that over the last five years, there have been ‘severe and damaging cuts' imposed on services for people with intellectual disabilities, and the campaign aims to highlight the consequences of these cuts.

One of the main objectives of the campaign is to ensure that the number, qualification and skill mix of staff is appropriate to meet the needs of service users. Another objective is to ensure that proper living and recreational accommodation is available to residents.

"The INMO wishes to shine a light on the situation that currently exists within intellectual disability services and to provoke a public debate on this human rights issue. It appears some providers with multiple layers of management are more interested in fiscal or financial targets than the provision of quality," commented INMO general secretary, Liam Doran.

As part of the campaign, the INMO will be communicating with all TDs and Senators and will be meeting with the Minister of State with responsibility for disability services, Kathleen Lynch.

It will also be staging a protest outside the Dail on Tuesday, September 22, at 1pm. The INMO is calling on members of the public to support this protest.