CONCERNS HAVE been raised about the standard of care provided for asylum seekers suffering from epilepsy following two separate incidents at asylum hostels.
Brainwave, the Irish Epilepsy Association, said yesterday it was concerned about media reports of incidents involving asylum seekers with epilepsy and urged those providing accommodation to people with epilepsy to contact them for support and training.
The association was responding to reports about the death of a 43-year-old Nigerian woman following an epileptic fit at a Galway hostel in May and the eviction of an Algerian asylum seeker from a hostel in Sligo this month. In the Sligo case, Faycal Daoud, who suffers from epilepsy, was made homeless after he was evicted from Globe House, a hostel that accommodates over 200 asylum seekers.
Figures released to The Irish Timesshow that 18 asylum seekers were expelled from their asylum centres in 2008 and 2009.
Mr Daoud said he was forced to find shelter in a homeless hostel for two nights and was later hospitalised following an uncontrolled seizure. He was subsequently re-admitted to Globe House following representations by his solicitor to the Reception and Integration Agency, which oversees 50 asylum centres across the country.
When contacted about Mr Daoud’s case, the agency said it could not comment on individual cases.
“A decision to expel an asylum seeker from a direct provision centre is usually one of last resort,” said the agency.
Management at Globe House refused to comment.
In a second incident involving an asylum seeker with epilepsy, a Nigerian woman died when she suffered a seizure in the bedroom she shared with three others. Olufemi Johnson had asked to move from the Eglinton Hotel to a more appropriate centre prior to her death last May, one of her friends said.
In a statement last June, the agency said it was “satisfied that the Eglinton Hotel has delivered all services it has been contracted to provide”.
Brainwave said yesterday it was concerned at the recent reports, adding that safety and wellbeing is a priority for all people with epilepsy and especially those with uncontrolled seizures.
“If a person’s living conditions, or changes to these, lead to increased stress or sleep deprivation both of these are potential triggers for seizures. Missed medication is a major cause of seizures and on no account should a person ever have to go without their epilepsy medication,” it said.
Brainwave said it would encourage providers of accommodation to asylum seekers to contact it for support and training in epilepsy and its management.
When asked if new guidance should be given to asylum centre operators on caring for residents with epilepsy after the incidents, the agency said it could not comment on individual cases.
“In general terms, asylum seekers avail of the same health services as Irish citizens and also qualify for medical cards. I would also like to remind you that the RIA does not provide any medical services – this is wholly within the domain of the HSE,” it added.
NGOs continue to raise concerns about the transfer of asylum seekers without proper consultation, the standard of accommodation in asylum centres, particularly with regard to children, and the lack of an independent complaints process.
Last month, 109 asylum seekers living in Mosney were told to transfer to Dublin with only a few days’ notice.
Following protests by those affected the orders were postponed until August 31st.
The new deadline set by the agency for the completion of the transfers is next Tuesday.