Three members of CHI board resign, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirms
Ms Carroll MacNeill said the three members, Dr Gavin Lavery, Brigid McManus and Catherine Guy, held voluntary positions on the CHI board. The resignations comes following a number of controversies surrounding CHI.
A report published on Friday found a number of children had undergone unnecessary hip surgeries in two Dublin hospitals.
The majority of cases reviewed at the Temple Street and Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospitals found the threshold for surgery treating hip dysplasia in children was lower than that at Crumlin Children's Hospital.
"We've had three resignations from the board this morning. These would be individuals who have worked on the board, worked in a volunteer capacity on the board since 2018 and who have provided a very strong service in bringing the hospitals from where they were,' Ms Carroll MacNeill told RTÉ's News At One.
The Health Minister said she has 'strong questions about the governance of CHI and its direction towards the future'.
"This is something that I've referenced a number of times in the Dáil and I've said that very clearly, we need to have a functional governance structure to enable us to get to the opening of the Children's Hospital and to deal with the very many issues in children's health.
"I have a different relationship with the CHI board in statute than any other minister really has with most other boards. It is an unusual structure and I don't have the authority to ask people to step down in the way that you normally might expect.'
The independent review found 40pc of the surgeries reviewed at Temple Street met the criteria, while the figure for Cappagh was just 21pc.
Separately, The Sunday Times revealed an unpublished report which found a consultant was paid more than €35,000 through the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), a scheme aimed at reducing waiting times in the public health system by paying for patients to be treated privately.
Ms Carroll MacNeill said she and senior Department of Health officials have read the report and she was written to CHI with a 'detailed series of questions'.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn more
'I am trying to gather information, and I am trying, it's very important to say, to work at the legal parameters around how I would publish this report.
'I do think it will be important that it is published, but I need to make sure that I take the correct steps. There are important issues in this report. Number one for patient safety first and foremost.'
She said the report outlines issues around the scheduling of operations and 'very toxic behaviours' at Crumlin Hospital.
'That is not the first time that we have heard about this across the surgical system in CHI, some of the other reports relating to hips and other issues detail very, very difficult working circumstances.
'So, this is an issue that is not confined to Temple Street nor to Crumlin, but there has been a historical issue in CHI that very clearly needs very close attention.'
Payments through the NTPF are normally made to hospitals 'more broadly' she said, rather than to any individual consultant, with the sole purpose of reducing the amount of time public patients are on waiting lists.
She said she will wait until the publication of the report to determine if the NTPF was misused, and the Department of Health should have been aware of its findings sooner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
HIQA stopped admissions to Laois nursing home featured in ‘RTÉ Investigates' programme amid concerns
RTÉ News reports that HIQA confirmed that "through its inspections" of both nursing homes it had "identified a number of significant concerns". The findings of the RTÉ investigation into two nursing homes run by Ireland's largest provider was likened to 'institutional abuse'. HIQA had stopped admissions to one of the nursing homes prior to the programme being aired last night. The 'deeply distressing' footage in RTÉ Investigates – Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes, which aired last night, details a litany of failings in two homes run by Emeis Ireland, formerly Orpea. The French-owned company has 27 privately-run facilities here, providing more than 2,400 beds. It has a global revenue of more than €5.6bn. After concerns were raised by several whistleblowers, RTÉ sent two undercover researchers to apply for healthcare assistant roles. They obtained footage from The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin. Among the breaches detailed were inadequate staffing levels, which at times left one employee looking after 23 residents, and people being refused help to go to the toilet. One resident was left on the toilet for an extended period of time with a broken call bell, after the worker went off on her break. When she was eventually tended to, the nurse was seen cleaning her hands afterwards on the resident's skirt. In another incident, an elderly man in a wheelchair pleaded to go to the toilet, only to have his request refused. He was not taken to the bathroom until 25 minutes after his first request. Reacting to the footage, consultant geriatrician David Robinson said it was 'neglect… in a setting that is supposed to be caring'. ADVERTISEMENT Staff in the Portlaoise facility were secretly filmed discussing how they had run out of incontinence pads and would not get any for another 10 days. They were told they would instead have to use 'sticky pads and underwear'. In one scene captured on camera, a nurse says 'using incorrect incontinence wear is a form of abuse' and they are 'actually causing bed sores'. This morning, HIQA confirmed that admissions to The Residence Portlaoise had been stopped "as part of its escalatory action". A spokesperson said; "further inspection reports on both of these centres are currently being finalised and will be published shortly". "We are very concerned about the practices described in the programme and we have engaged directly with those responsible for the operation of the nursing homes," the statement continued. "Accordingly, we will be taking the necessary actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents". Incidents In one incident at Beneavin Manor, Glasnevin, which houses many people living with dementia, one vulnerable resident was seen being left in her wheelchair for up to six hours. When she was eventually moved, the obligatory hoist was not used. The care worker insisted that she and the undercover reporter pull the frail woman up by her clothing because 'they are not glass'. When another man requested to use the toilet, he was told to use his incontinent pad instead. The same man was later found sitting in the dayroom in urine-soaked clothing. That night, he called repeatedly for someone to help him go to the toilet, but he was again told to use his pad. The next day, he was found lying on a soaking wet bed without any sheets. Later that night, there were no bed sheets left and staff instead used incontinence pads as a makeshift covering. Professor Rónán Collins, a consultant geriatrician, said the care of this man was 'really quite distressing'. 'I can't say any more about how much it goes against the grain of every kind of gerontological principle I would hold dear,' he said. Emeis Ireland said it was 'unacceptable' for residents to have to wait for care or be dismissed when requesting assistance. It also apologised to residents and their families for the distress caused by the failings identified. 'Emeis Ireland apologises unequivocally to all residents and their families for the suffering and distress experienced as a result of failures identified in the care provided. We recognise and deeply regret the breach of trust that has occurred in relation to the service standards we promise, and for any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times. These lapses fall short of the values and standards we set for ourselves as an organisation. "Emeis acknowledges the serious issues raised in relation to The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor. The findings are deeply distressing, wholly unjustifiable, and entirely unacceptable. We express our deep concern, as the wellbeing, dignity, and safety of residents in our care will always remain our foremost priority. 'We have commenced a comprehensive review across both nursing homes. We will not tolerate any individual or systemic neglect.' This article was edited at 9.55am on June 5 to clarify that HIQA stopped admissions to the nursing homE prior to the programme being aired last night.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
HIQA stops admissions to Laois nursing home featured in ‘RTÉ Investigates' programme amid concerns
RTÉ News reports that HIQA confirmed that "through its inspections" of both nursing homes it had "identified a number of significant concerns". The findings of the RTÉ investigation into two nursing homes run by Ireland's largest provider was likened to 'institutional abuse'. The 'deeply distressing' footage in RTÉ Investigates – Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes, which aired last night, details a litany of failings in two homes run by Emeis Ireland, formerly Orpea. The French-owned company has 27 privately-run facilities here, providing more than 2,400 beds. It has a global revenue of more than €5.6bn. After concerns were raised by several whistleblowers, RTÉ sent two undercover researchers to apply for healthcare assistant roles. They obtained footage from The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin. Among the breaches detailed were inadequate staffing levels, which at times left one employee looking after 23 residents, and people being refused help to go to the toilet. One resident was left on the toilet for an extended period of time with a broken call bell, after the worker went off on her break. When she was eventually tended to, the nurse was seen cleaning her hands afterwards on the resident's skirt. In another incident, an elderly man in a wheelchair pleaded to go to the toilet, only to have his request refused. He was not taken to the bathroom until 25 minutes after his first request. Reacting to the footage, consultant geriatrician David Robinson said it was 'neglect… in a setting that is supposed to be caring'. Staff in the Portlaoise facility were secretly filmed discussing how they had run out of incontinence pads and would not get any for another 10 days. They were told they would instead have to use 'sticky pads and underwear'. In one scene captured on camera, a nurse says 'using incorrect incontinence wear is a form of abuse' and they are 'actually causing bed sores'. This morning, HIQA confirmed that admissions to The Residence Portlaoise had been stopped "as part of its escalatory action". A spokesperson said; "further inspection reports on both of these centres are currently being finalised and will be published shortly". "We are very concerned about the practices described in the programme and we have engaged directly with those responsible for the operation of the nursing homes," the statement continued. "Accordingly, we will be taking the necessary actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents". Incidents In one incident at Beneavin Manor, Glasnevin, which houses many people living with dementia, one vulnerable resident was seen being left in her wheelchair for up to six hours. When she was eventually moved, the obligatory hoist was not used. The care worker insisted that she and the undercover reporter pull the frail woman up by her clothing because 'they are not glass'. When another man requested to use the toilet, he was told to use his incontinent pad instead. The same man was later found sitting in the dayroom in urine-soaked clothing. That night, he called repeatedly for someone to help him go to the toilet, but he was again told to use his pad. The next day, he was found lying on a soaking wet bed without any sheets. Later that night, there were no bed sheets left and staff instead used incontinence pads as a makeshift covering. Professor Rónán Collins, a consultant geriatrician, said the care of this man was 'really quite distressing'. 'I can't say any more about how much it goes against the grain of every kind of gerontological principle I would hold dear,' he said. Emeis Ireland said it was 'unacceptable' for residents to have to wait for care or be dismissed when requesting assistance. It also apologised to residents and their families for the distress caused by the failings identified. 'Emeis Ireland apologises unequivocally to all residents and their families for the suffering and distress experienced as a result of failures identified in the care provided. We recognise and deeply regret the breach of trust that has occurred in relation to the service standards we promise, and for any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times. These lapses fall short of the values and standards we set for ourselves as an organisation. "Emeis acknowledges the serious issues raised in relation to The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor. The findings are deeply distressing, wholly unjustifiable, and entirely unacceptable. We express our deep concern, as the wellbeing, dignity, and safety of residents in our care will always remain our foremost priority. 'We have commenced a comprehensive review across both nursing homes. We will not tolerate any individual or systemic neglect.'
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Irish Times
Admissions to Portlaoise nursing home halted due to ‘significant concerns'
Admissions to one of two nursing homes facing allegations of abuse and neglect were halted earlier this year by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) due to 'significant concerns'. The Residence, Portlaoise, featured alongside Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, north Dublin, in an RTÉ Investigates programme showing instances of alleged abuse and neglect of frail, elderly residents. The programme includes older people allegedly being manhandled, 'forced' down into chairs, being left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked, and being ignored when they pleaded for help to go to the toilet. The centres are operated by Emeis, previously known as Orpea, the largest provider of private nursing home beds in the State. READ MORE Following the RTÉ broadcast on Wednesday night, Hiqa has said it identified several 'significant concerns' through previous inspections of the services and, as part of escalatory action, it stopped admissions to the Residence, Portlaoise. The health and safety watchdog halted admissions after an inspection in February, a spokeswoman said. This condition came into effect in April following a notice period. Such 'restrictive conditions' are implemented when there is persistent noncompliance with the regulations or where there is risk to residents' safety, it said. Overall, the centre was found to be non-compliant with 10 regulations following the February inspection. It found staff were not appropriately trained to deliver effective and safe care and were not appropriately supervised, which was noted as being a repeated noncompliance. While most centres can expect one or two inspections each year, Hiqa said it carries out more inspections at centres where there are concerns or where there is repeated noncompliance. The Residence, Portlaoise, had three inspections last year and one in February. Beneavin Manor was also among the 36 nursing homes to receive three or more inspections in response to persistent noncompliance. Other enforcement steps available to Hiqa include cancelling the registration of a centre. However, it noted such action can cause 'significant upset and distress' to residents and their families. Following 840 inspections in total last year, the authority either refused to renew registration or cancelled the registration of 10 nursing homes. Hiqa said it was conscious the RTÉ Investigates programme is 'very distressing viewing' for nursing home residents, their families and friends. It said further inspection reports on both of the centres are being finalised and will be published in the coming weeks. 'However, we are very concerned about the practices described in the programme and we have engaged directly with those responsible for the operation of the nursing homes,' it said. Hiqa said it will be taking necessary actions with Emeis to ensure safe and effective care for all residents.
