'Issues' in HIQA approach to nursing home inspections

RTÉ News​

19 hours ago

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Health Information and Quality Authority's regulatory framework will have to be examined in the light of revelations in the RTÉ Investigates documentary on nursing homes, which he described as horrific, shocking and unacceptable.
Micheál Martin said that HIQA would have to take on board how in the case of one nursing home, inspections revealed a lack of compliance with regulations, and in the case of another the inspections did not.
"That needs to be examined in terms of how that came about and are there better ways of getting in under this, making sure this doesn't happen again," Mr Martin said.
"HIQA has been effective and impactful in many areas - that has to be said. But there has to be an examination of this situation in terms of the regulatory framework that didn't catch very horrific and shocking behaviour towards elderly people in nursing homes. That has to be taken on board."
Mr Martin said there were "issues" in terms of how HIQA approached the inspection of the two nursing homes involved.
"I think they will be examining that aspect of it in terms of the manner and methodology used to inspect, even though they were unannounced inspections when they happened.
"What was uncovered by RTÉ Investigates was horrific. It was absolutely unacceptable," he said.
Mr Martin was speaking to the media during a visit to Star of the Sea primary school at Passage West in Co Cork.
HSA to inspect nursing homes featured in programme
Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is to carry out inspections at the two centres which featured in the documentary examining standards of care at Ireland's largest private provider of nursing homes.
The inspections will review general health and safety measures at both The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in north Dublin to ensure risk assessments, patient handling and health and safety training are in place.
The inspections come on foot of detailed complaints made to HIQA by two undercover RTÉ carers who witnessed repeated examples in both homes of frail older residents being handled inappropriately or lifted without the use of proper handling equipment.
The concerns were subsequently passed to the HSA as they do not fall under the remit of HIQA.
HIQA has also confirmed that it is carrying out a review of all nursing homes operated by the Emeis Ireland group.
It said that following an inspection of The Residence Portlaoise in February, it initiated proceedings to stop admissions to the nursing home.
The provider was advised of this measure in February, a formal notification was issued in March and the restriction came into effect on 22 April.
However, the nursing home was in breach of the sanction after 22 April.
It is understood a flurry of admissions took place to the home in late April, including post 22 April and during which time RTÉ Investigates had an undercover healthcare assistant working at the home.