Rap for health visitors who failed tragic toddler Declan Hainey

By MATTHEW COYLE and SCOTT MACNAB
Published on Friday 17 February 2012 00:00

TWO health visitors have been disciplined and three more ordered to undertake a “retraining programme” after a report into the death of toddler Declan Hainey criticised the part played in the tragedy by health and social care staff.

Yesterday, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed what action had been taken but said all five staff involved were still in its employ.

The report, published after a Significant Case Review, commissioned by the health board and Renfrewshire Council, highlighted a “catalogue of missed opportunities” for support staff, including social workers, drugs workers and health professionals, to assess Declan.

The fifteen-month-old’s body was concealed in a squalid flat in Bruce Road, Paisley, by his drug addict mother, Kimberley, before it was discovered in March 2010.

Politicians last night called for a full inquiry into the case after Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit, warned health and social services staff were overloaded.

Hainey, 37, pretended Declan was alive for several months until his body was finally found. Investigators were unable to establish when exactly the child had died. He had last been seen alive eight months before the horror discovery. His mother was found guilty of his murder in December and jailed for 15 years last month.

Yesterday, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We have investigated the practice of five health visiting staff. Formal disciplinary action has been taken against two of these individuals, while three are going through a programme of retraining.

“The five staff continue to work with us but, as with any disciplinary action, it would be inappropriate for us to give out any further information.”

One health worker made a series of unsuccessful attempts over a seven-month period between 2009 and 2010 to see Declan, but was met with various excuses from his mother.

Renfrewshire Council has refused to reveal the extent of any disciplinary action taken against its staff.

But Eileen McCartin, convener of the council’s Community and Family Care policy board, said: “The case review makes it clear this council has already looked carefully at the involvement of all our employees with Declan and Kimberley Hainey.

“Disciplinary investigations have been carried out where necessary and appropriate action has been taken or is being implemented.”

Labour MSP for Renfrewshire South, Hugh Henry, said: “I am calling for First Minister Alex Salmond to order an independent, wide-ranging inquiry into how Scotland’s most vulnerable children are protected.”