Healthcare inspectors received 290 reports of sexual and other abuse within the care system last year.

The inspectorate IGJ investigated 99 cases of suspected sexual abuse by carers of patients and clients, healthcare news platform Skipr reported. It is not known how many of the incidents were reported to police or how often this led to a prosecution.

‘In disabled care we have a group of very vulnerable people who can easily be overwhelmed or are unable to assess a situation,’ an IGJ spokesman said.

The IGJ said it is not relevant if a client wants a sexual relationship with a carer and that ‘a care relationship in which a client is dependent on a carer prohibits any such relationship.’

The IGJ received 60 reports of abuse in residential and home care for the elderly. It received few or no reports from other sectors, such as hospitals, pharmacies, dentists and family doctors.