5 days ago
Nursing home chain at the centre of RTÉ Investigates programme issues apology
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20 mins ago
THE NURSING HOME chain at the centre of a programme by RTÉ Investigates has issued an 'unequivocal' apology to residents and their families.
Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea, operates 27 nursing homes across the country after entering the Irish market in 2022.
The RTÉ programme that is to air tonight
highlights poor treatment and practice within two of the homes under the chain's brand.
Two RTÉ researchers worked undercover in two different homes; one in The Residence Portlaoise, and one in Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin today said that he is 'very, very concerned' about the investigation's findings.
'I think it's shocking what is likely to be revealed following the report,' he told reporters in Dublin. He said that it was 'unacceptable' that the operator had allowed the failures to occur within its nursing homes.
A statement from the company said that it has begun a comprehensive review across both nursing homes as a result of the failures identified within the programme.
'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.'
It said that it has issued 'clear guidance' to all its employees, which it said would be reinforced through targeted training and enhanced supervision in 'individualised resident handling, continence management, and safeguarding'.
'We will not tolerate any individual or systemic neglect, nor any practices that compromise resident safety, rights, or dignity.'
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Within the programme, which
The Journal
has previewed, staff at the nursing homes are seen to have left residents dressed in inappropriate incontinence wear, left unchanged for hours at a time, and being discovered in wet clothing after they had wet themselves.
It also shows a man with dementia, recorded with secret cameras installed by RTÉ, being 'roughly handled' by staff.
The company also said that it is reviewing the oversight and management of medical supplies and clinical practices across all of its nursing homes.
'Assistance programmes for residents, families, and staff are being established in response to the serious issues identified.
'Staff, residents, families, and members of the public have access to a confidential whistleblower portal through which concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal.
'All concerns are promptly investigated, reported to the appropriate regulatory authorities, and followed up with individualised safeguarding plans and strengthened oversight to mitigate the risk of recurrence,' Emeis said in a statement.
Staff members at Emeis-operated nursing homes made protected disclosures to the Health Information and Equality Authority (HIQA), but it took 17 weeks for follow-up inspections to be carried out, the programme reports.
Charity ALONE said that it is shocked and dismayed at the revelations featured within the programme.
Its CEO Seán Moynihan said, 'But shock and anger aren't enough – the Leas Cross Nursing Home scandal was 20 years ago. This needs to finally be the wake-up call that sparks real change in how we support and care for older people.'
'Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes' airs tonight at 9.35 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
With reporting by Eimer McAuley
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