Latest news with #Emeis
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
Taoiseach: 'Horrific, shocking' nursing home revelations demand review of HIQA framework
The Health Information and Quality Authority's regulations will have to be examined after 'shocking' care failings in nursing homes, the Taoiseach has said. Micheál Martin said yesterday that the nursing homes regulator failed to detect what he described as 'horrific, shocking and unacceptable' treatment of elderly patients captured in an RTÉ programme. RTÉ Investigates' Inside Nursing Homes aired this week showing vulnerable elderly people being left unsupervised for long periods, shortages in key items such as incontinence pads, and requests to use the toilet being unanswered for lengthy periods. The Health Information and Quality Authority's regulations will have to be examined after 'shocking' care failings in nursing homes, the Taoiseach has said. Pic: Getty Images Despite repeated complaints, there were delays in Hiqa inspections taking place at the homes run by the country's largest private nursing home provider Emeis, which owns the two nursing homes that featured in the programme, The Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin. Yesterday, Emeis Ireland apologised to the residents of Beneavin Manor and The Residence Portlaoise and their families. The company expressed regret for 'the pain and distress imposed on them, due to clearly identified failures in care,' and said it is cooperating with Hiqa and the HSE. RTÉ revealed that Hiqa had banned The Residence from admitting new patients because of poor compliance with regulations on April 22 but that several more patients were admitted after this date. Micheál Martin said yesterday that the nursing homes regulator failed to detect what he described as 'horrific, shocking and unacceptable' treatment of elderly patients captured in an RTÉ programme. Pic: Leah Farrell/© Emeis said 'due to an administrative error on our part regarding the date to cease admissions, admissions continued for eight days until April 30, 2025 in The Residence Portlaoise'. The company added that Hiqa and the HSE visited the two nursing homes featured and acknowledged that the content of the programme was 'shocking and unacceptable and unquestionably equated to poor and abusive practice'. In yesterday's statement, Emeis also said it would aim to improve six areas, one of which is 'addressing a culture of fear or poor reporting'. Another area it said needed improvement was 'ensuring the immediate safety of all residents', as well as 'improving staff training and competence'. RTÉ Investigates' Inside Nursing Homes aired this week showing vulnerable elderly people being left unsupervised for long periods, shortages in key items such as incontinence pads, and requests to use the toilet being unanswered for lengthy periods. Pic: Getty Images RTÉ reported that the Taoiseach, speaking about Hiqa failures said: '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.' 'What was uncovered by RTÉ Investigates was horrific. It was absolutely unacceptable,' he said. Hiqa confirmed it is carrying out a review of all 27 Emeis Ireland nursing homes. Clare Doyle, a teacher training healthcare assistant, told RTÉ's Liveline that she had reported an Emeis nursing home to Hiqa two years ago after some of her students raised concerns about practices there. 'It's very difficult for me to listen to what Hiqa has said, that they're shocked by what was witnessed on Wednesday night's show, because we provided evidence of this happening two years ago,' she said, adding that it took 17 weeks to carry out an inspection at a home she reported. Liveline also heard from a woman who removed her father from Beneavin House, on the same Glasnevin campus to the nursing home featured in the programme. She said her father was subject to 'neglect and abuse' during his 11 months in the home before she removed him and she noticed 'red flags from the beginning'. She said: 'My brother visited at half ten in the morning to find my dad in a wet bed, still in his pyjamas, and having not had his breakfast. He had two falls within three weeks of being there.' She also said her father had an incontinence incident with his bowels and the room wasn't properly cleaned before his supper was brought to him, with carers claiming they couldn't do anything because no housekeeping staff were available.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Multinational nursing home operators do not deliver lower standards of care, says spokesman
There is no evidence to support the claim that private sector nursing homes provide poorer care than public ones, a spokesman for the private and voluntary nursing home sector has said. Tadhg Daly, Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland was speaking in the wake of an RTÉ programme on two Irish nursing homes run by French multinational Emeis . The undercover documentary alleged serious failings in the care being delivered. Mr Daly cited a 15-year review of the sector last year by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) that noted a 'clear trend' of large corporate groups purchasing Irish nursing homes but found no associated negative effect on care. The report said Hiqa 'does not currently have any specific concerns' regarding the quality of care provided in nursing homes that are owned or operated by these large corporate groups. READ MORE [ What is Emeis and where are its Irish care homes located? Opens in new window ] However, it said the consolidation of nursing home ownership by a small number of large operators represented a 'systemic risk' that should be addressed as part of an overall strategy for the sector. Mr Daly said there must be a regulatory regime that delivers the 'high quality care that our older people require and deserve'. The policy of 'Ireland Inc' was to encourage foreign direct investment in all sectors of the economy, including the healthcare sector, he said. 'You can have bad outcomes in the private system and bad outcomes in the public system,' he said. [ Review of all nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland requested by Department of Health Opens in new window ] Emeis Ireland, formerly Orpea, apologised for what was revealed by the RTÉ documentary, which involved secret filming inside The Residence, in Portlaoise, Co Laois, and the Beneavin Manor nursing home, in Glasnevin, Dublin 11. Minister for Older People Kieran O'Donnell met Hiqa in the wake of the programme which he described as 'extremely distressing'. The share price of the French multinational, then called Orpea, collapsed a few years ago following the publication of a book in France about care standards in its homes, with a French state investment fund eventually bailing it out. The fund remains the largest shareholder of the business, which had global revenues of €5.6 billion last year. The French multinational is the largest operator in the Irish nursing home sector, with its Irish subsidiaries owned by way of a company in Luxembourg called Central & Eastern Europe Health Care Services Holding Sarl. Shane Scanlan, chief executive of The Alliance – Supporting Nursing Homes, a nursing home trade association said smaller independent nursing home groups provide a better standard of care in general than multinational groups do, because they are 'on the ground' and their owners are more in touch with what is happening in their home. 'Emeis has €5.6 billion generated in global funding and you look at the programme and there aren't even sheets, basic incontinence wear, there's poor staffing levels. That's completely unacceptable from an organisation generating that level of revenue.' A Hiqa report from an inspection of the Portlaoise nursing home in February noted a weak organisation structure was affecting the quality of care being provided. It also noted 'noncompliance' in a number of key areas. There were 70 residents in the home at the time of the visit. Although changes had been introduced in the wake of criticisms made after a previous inspection, the report said, 'this inspection found that the overall governance and management of the centre had deteriorated since'. A November 2024 inspection of the Beneavin home, where there were 72 residents at the time, did not find any instance of noncompliance. 'From what the residents told the inspector and from what was observed, it was evident that residents were very happy living in Firstcare Beneavin Manor and their rights were respected in how they spent their days,' the report said. In a statement on Friday, Emeis noted a request from the Minister for Older People for Hiqa to conduct a national review of its nursing home facilities and said it will co-operate fully with all regulatory and statutory bodies. It said Hiqa and the HSE have visited Beneavin Manor and The Residence Portlaoise, and it has separately initiated on-site audits and 'detailed corrective actions'. It said the 'shocking and unacceptable' footage showing 'poor and abusive practice' is not representative of the professionalism and commitment of its employees in Ireland.
The Journal
4 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
Taoiseach calls for HIQA's regulations to be examined following RTÉ nursing home investigation
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has called for a review of HIQA's regulatory framework after an RTÉ Investigates programme highlighted poor treatment and practice within two privately-owned care homes. Both care facilities – The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin – are under the ownership of Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea. Emeis operates 27 nursing homes across the country after entering the Irish market in 2022. It was revealed this week that the nursing homes regulator HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) had stopped new admissions to The Residence in Portlaoise in April. HIQA said it was 'very concerned' over the 'distressing' scenes in the RTÉ programme. Speaking to reporters today, Martin described the scenes in the RTÉ Investigates programme as 'horrific, shocking and absolutely unacceptable'. He said there was a lack of a 'clear ethos and framework' and that there are 'issues for HIQA's approach to this'. 'I think HIQA will be examining that aspect of it,' said Martin, 'in terms of the methodology used to inspect. Advertisement 'Are there better ways of getting under this to make sure that this does not happen again.' He then called for 'increased vigilance from the regulatory approach' and added that this is 'something that the government will be looking at'. Martin said he has spoken with both Kieran O'Donnell, Minister of State for Older People, and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on the issue. He further remarked that the issue is 'fundamentally about regulation' but added that HIQA is 'well resourced'. And while Martin said HIQA has been 'effective and impactful in many areas', he added that 'there has to be an examination' because the 'regulatory framework didn't catch very horrific and shocking behaviour towards elderly people in nursing homes'. Martin also said that there will now be a 'full look' at all the homes under Emeis's ownership. Meanwhile, Martin remarked that Ireland is 'one of the more young populations in Europe, but we're aging fast'. However, he said there is a 'multi-stranded approach to aging' by the government and that a new national safeguarding policy is being developed. But while he remarked that this new policy 'would be an additional help', he added: 'But fundamentally, it's behaviour on a day-to-day basis and how homes are operated, and it's the regulation of that that ultimately will still have to be the first response and key response to situations like this.' He also said there will continue to be a mix of public and private care homes due to the need to be 'absolutely realistic and pragmatic about the population growth and the aging of the population'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Staff in nursing home at centre of neglect claims ‘did not show a shred of empathy' for woman (92)
Families affected by alleged elder abuse and neglect in a Dublin nursing home have said staff 'did not show one shred of empathy or concern' for their relatives. The documentary RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes , broadcast this week, alleges multiple instances of mistreatment of residents at Beneavin Manor, in Glasnevin , Dublin 11. Consultant geriatrician David Robinson said the home was host to 'institutional abuse', including elderly, sometimes frail people allegedly 'being left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked'. Both Beneavin Manor and The Residence in Portlaoise, which also featured in the programme, are operated by Emeis, the largest provider of private-nursing-home beds in the State. READ MORE Rose Keeley claimed her 92-year-old mother, Mary, who has dementia and mobility issues, suffered neglect at Beneavin Manor. She said her mother was scheduled to spend a week there during a period she was unable to mind her at home. Ms Keeley said her mother entered the residential home on a Saturday morning in February 2024 and was brought to the Mater hospital the following Tuesday after suffering from dehydration and 'not being fed or given her medicine' throughout her stay. She said she grew concerned when she visited her mother at about 6pm on the Monday and found her 'in absolute darkness' in a bedroom. When she asked a member of staff why her mother had been left in that manner, she said she was told 'if she wants to fall asleep she can fall asleep'. The next day, a family friend rang Ms Keeley to tell her that her mother was 'in absolute agony' with a back ache. She said two nursing assistants - who 'did not show one shred of empathy or concern' - then tried to move her mother, who was left 'screaming in pain'. She arranged for her mother to be transported to the Mater hopspital. Ms Keeley said he mother spent six weeks at a rehabilitation facility in Clontarf following her stay in Beneavin Manor and 'never went home after that'. She is now living in a different residential home. Fianna Fáil councillor for Ballymun-Finglas Keith Connolly said the RTÉ programme raised 'obvious concerns' and highlighted issues that should not be tolerated. 'This is not the first time concerns have been raised about nursing homes on a national scale,' he said, adding that extra resources must be allocated to the sector to address such problems. After Ms Keeley raised her mother's experience of Beneavin Manor with Mr Connolly last year, he contacted the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa). He said he was told by a regional manager that 'she would be in touch with [Ms Keeley] directly'. Ms Keeley said she has yet to be contacted by Hiqa about her mother's treatment. Hiqa wrote in a statement after the RTE Investigates programme was broadcast: 'Through its inspections of these services, Hiqa identified a number of significant concerns and as part of its escalatory action had stopped admissions to one of the centres. 'Further inspection reports on both of these centres are currently being finalised and will be published shortly. 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 did not comment on Ms Keeley's case. Emeis Ireland, which owns and operates Beneavin Manor and 26 similar residential facilities across Ireland, said it apologised 'unequivocally to all residents and their families for the suffering and distress experienced as a result of failures identified in the care provided'. Emeis Ireland said it could not comment on individual cases.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Ireland probes mistreatment at care homes run by French company
Representative AI image DUBLIN: Ireland's health ministry Thursday ordered a probe into French care homes operator Emeis, the country's biggest private nursing home provider, after a television programme alleged residents in two places were mistreated. The investigative programme aired undercover footage of elderly residents allegedly forced into chairs, and being ignored when they pleaded for help to go to the toilet. The programme, shown on Irish state broadcaster RTE on Wednesday, also showed some residents were left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked. The scenes were "extremely distressing" and "wholly unacceptable", health ministry official Kieran O'Donnell told RTE Thursday. The ministry has ordered the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to launch a review of all nursing homes operated by Emeis, he said. Offering its "sincere apologies", the firm said "this is not the standard of care it expects and not what residents and their families deserve", and pledged to review all operations across Ireland. Emeis, which was called Orpea until last year, run 27 private nursing homes in Ireland. The company entered the Irish market in 2020 through the takeover of another portfolio. HIQA, who are tasked with inspecting care homes, said Emeis-run homes including the two featured in Wednesday's programme had triggered recent concerns. Earlier this year, HIQA ordered one of them to cease admitting new residents, citing "significant concerns". Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke told RTE an institution should not be operating "if people are not being cared for appropriately, with dignity, with respect". "HIQA need to really enforce that and to ensure that everyone has a basic level of dignity and care that they deserve in their twilight years," said Burke. Emeis changed its name to turn the page on a scandal in France when its homes came under scrutiny following the 2022 publication of the book "The Gravediggers" by independent journalist Victor Castan. It cited employees and relatives claiming that residents were at times left for hours with soiled underwear or went days without care as managers sought to maximise profit margins. Orpea contested those claims as "untruthful, scandalous and injurious".
