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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Taoiseach calls for review of Hiqa after RTÉ exposé on nursing home abuse
The Taoiseach says there must be an investigation into how the health regulator failed to detect some of the abuse uncovered at two nursing homes. Micheál Martin insisted that the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) is well-resourced and fit for purpose, but said the Government plans to consider how it can strengthen oversight of nursing homes in the wake of the latest scandal. 'Since its beginning, it (Hiqa) came out of the quality and fairness strategy of 2002, which I published at the time, it was the first ever development in Ireland in terms of quality control and regulation within our health service,' Mr Martin said. 'Over the years its role has expanded. It has been effective and impactful in many areas. That has to be said. 'But certainly there has to be an examination of this situation - the regulatory framework didn't catch very horrific and shocking behaviour towards elderly people in nursing homes. That has to be taken on board.' He made his comments in Cork today, as Hiqa begins a review of all nursing homes operated by the Emeis Ireland group. The Health and Safety Authority is also preparing to carry out inspections at the two centres featured in the RTÉ Investigates documentary, which examined standards of care at Ireland's largest private nursing home provider. Mr Martin said: 'What happened and what was uncovered by RTÉ Investigates was absolutely and absolutely unacceptable. 'It illustrated in terms of the governance of those nursing homes, the ownership, a lack of a clear ethos and ethical framework in terms of respecting the dignity of every human being, of every person living in those nursing homes. 'We think of the families who had to watch that, who placed their loved ones in the care of those homes. 'It is quite shocking. It is not acceptable.' He rejected claims that the Government had neglected the complex needs of elderly people, pointing to a multi-stranded approach, including a doubling of expenditure on home care to over €800 million and significant investment in community district hospitals over the last five years. However, he acknowledged shortcomings in Hiqa's inspection methods. 'I think we have to stand back and take a look at how in one case anyway the inspections did reveal a lack of compliance - in another, not so - and that needs to be examined as to how that came about and are there better ways of getting in under this to make sure that this does not happen again,' he said. 'There will have to be increased vigilance from the regulatory approach and that is something that government will be looking at.' Despite the criticisms, he maintained that Hiqa remains effective. 'This is fundamentally about regulation and fundamentally about the regulatory frameworks governing both private and public,' he said. "There are safeguarding policies already in place. 'There is a new national safeguarding policy being developed, and parallel with that and after that obviously, which will take guidance from the strategy, legislation will be passed. 'But that in itself isn't the issue. It will be an additional help but fundamentally it's behaviour on a day-to-day basis. 'It is how homes are operated and it's the regulation then of that that ultimately will still have to be the first response and the key response to situations like this." He also emphasised the need for future legislation around home care. "The objective of most families is can we keep our loved one at home for as long as possible and that will be provided for legislatively, it is already provided for, we have doubled home care provision. 'I see that as taking up a significant part of the provision into the future. 'And we have invested very strongly in the public system which people may not realise through the refurbishment of existing community district hospitals across the country over the last 4 to 5 years. 'There will be additional investment in public facilities into the future. 'But it will continue to be a mix of public, private and home care to be absolutely realistic and pragmatic about it given the population growth and the ageing of the population,' he added. Read More Daughter of nursing home resident describes distressing scenes at Beneavin Manor
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
'Issues' in HIQA approach to nursing home inspections
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.
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
Nursing home that was subject of 'distressing' RTE documentary breached HIQA restrictions
A nursing home that was the subject of a shocking RTÉ Investigates documentary admitted new patients after it was banned from doing so by the regulator for the sector. The Residence in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, has a capacity of over 100 residents and was found to be non-compliant after an inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) in February. The nursing home was banned from admitting new clients in late April until improvements were made, but admitted new ones after the cut-off date and during the same period RTÉ was filming the hidden-camera documentary at the facility. A nursing home that was the subject of a shocking RTÉ Investigates documentary admitted new patients after it was banned from doing so by the regulator for the sector. Pic: Getty Images (file photo) HIQA confirmed yesterday it would carry out a review of The Residence and the 26 other facilities run by the Emeis Ireland Group, the country's largest nursing home operator. Wednesday night's programme exposed what the Minister for Older People called 'extremely distressing' treatment of people who live at The Residence and another Emeis nursing home in Glasnevin, Dublin. The documentary showed elderly people being left unsupervised for long periods, shortages in vital items such as incontinence pads, and requests to use the toilet going unanswered for lengthy periods of time. The Residence in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, has a capacity of over 100 residents and was found to be non-compliant after an inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) in February. Pic: Shutterstock (file photo) One elderly man was recorded pleading to go to the bathroom for 25 minutes before he was helped to the toilet, while another resident was left on the toilet for an extended period with a broken call bell after a staff member went on their break. Minister of State for Older People Kieran O'Donnell said he had met with HIQA about the failings shown in the film. 'What we saw from the programme was neglect and abuse of older people, and clearly a key element to that was lack of staffing,' Mr O'Donnell said yesterday. When asked if HIQA had failed residents of the nursing homes, the minister said: 'Certainly from what we saw on that programme last night, one could not stand over. I want to ensure this never happens again.' The nursing home was banned from admitting new clients in late April until improvements were made, but admitted new ones after the cut-off date and during the same period RTÉ was filming the hidden-camera documentary at the facility. Pic: Getty Images (file photo) One carer working in a home run by Emeis Ireland, who flagged issues with HIQA, waited more than four months before an inspection was carried out. HIQA stated it was aware the documentary 'makes very distressing viewing for all nursing home residents, and their families and friends'. 'The nursing homes featured in this programme were subject to a number of additional inspections in an effort to bring them into compliance,' HIQA said. Eoghan Kenny, Labour Cork North-Central TD and Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee member, said he plans to urge his PAC colleagues to invite HIQA in to answer questions. 'The fact HIQA took over four months to investigate issues identified by RTÉ is beyond belief,' he said. 'What we witnessed last night was utterly appalling. HIQA are failing in their statutory remit to investigate and resolve issues when they arise locally. It's vital we have the highest standards of care for older people.' The February HIQA inspection at the Portlaoise home found residents 'sometimes experienced extended waiting times' for help because there weren't enough staff. However, this failing still hadn't been addressed by the time the documentary was being made months later. Footage showed 23 residents left in a day room with just one healthcare assistant taking care of them for hours. Professor Amanda Phelan of DCU's School of Nursing, who featured in the documentary, said the residents were dehumanised for the convenience of staff and treated like they were in 'a holding area'. The Irish Daily Mail has contacted Emeis Ireland for comment.
The Journal
6 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
HIQA 'very concerned' over scenes at nursing homes at the centre of RTÉ investigation
NURSING HOMES REGULATOR HIQA carried out additional inspections at two care facilities featured in an RTÉ Investigates programme as a result of previous non-compliance orders, the authority has said. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) said it is 'very concerned' over the 'distressing' scenes pictured in RTÉ Investigate's programme into two privately-owned care facilities in Co Dublin and Co Laois. It has engaged with the owner of the two facilities, Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea. RTÉ Investigate's programme aired last night and highlights poor treatment and practice within two of the homes under the chain's brand. Emeis operates 27 nursing homes across the country after entering the Irish market in 2022. Two RTÉ researchers worked undercover in two different homes; one in The Residence Portlaoise, and one in Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin. Undercover reporters saw understaffing leading to older people being in pain while waiting to go to the toilet. HIQA has this morning revealed that the nursing homes featured in the programme were subject to additional inspections, as a result of previous non-compliance orders. It has asked all residents in all Irish nursing homes, and their friends and family, to maintain confidence in its ability to regulate care and nursing homes and to come forward with anything they deem concerning at other facilities. Multiple residents at the facility suffered falls after being left on their own, staff moved people inappropriately without using a hoist, and in one case, a man who asked to be taken to the toilet being told directly by a staff member to pee in his incontinence pad. Advertisement In a statement yesterday, Emeis apologised 'unequivocally' to residents and their families . It said the investigation's 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,' the company said. Overnight, HIQA, the national regulator for nursing homes and care facilities, said it will be taking the necessary actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents. A recent report by the authority highlighted that a small number of nursing homes fail to meet compliance regulations. It said the 'vast majority' of operational nursing homes in Ireland meet mandated standards Where issues are persistent, HIQA said its chief inspector takes necessary enforcement steps, such as placing restrictions on a centre's registration. In 2024, HIQA refused to renew registration or cancelled the registration of ten nursing homes. It said the chief inspector, in taking these decisions, is 'mindful that cancelling registration of a centre can cause significant upset' for residents and their family. A total of 840 inspections were carried out last year, it said, with 84% of them being unannounced reviews. 'Inspections are a core component of the regulation of nursing homes and aim to improve the lived experiences of residents, and allow us to meet with residents on inspection and hear directly from them,' it said. It has engaged with the owner of the two facilities, Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea. 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
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
HIQA stops admissions to Laois nursing home featured in RTÉ programme amid concerns
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has stopped admissions to one of two nursing homes featured in last night's RTÉ Investigates documentary, and said that "through its inspections" of both it had "identified a number of significant concerns". HIQA was responding to the programme which uncovered multiple examples of care failings and neglect of vulnerable older residents at The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin in north Dublin, two nursing homes run by Emeis Ireland. A spokesperson for HIQA confirmed that admissions to The Residence Portlaoise had been stopped "as part of its escalatory action". It said "further inspection reports on both of these centres are currently being finalised and will be published shortly". However HIQA confirmed that it is now taking further action on foot of the RTÉ Investigates documentary. "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 said, "accordingly, we will be taking the necessary actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents". In 2024, HIQA inspectors conducted 840 inspections of nursing homes, and it said that 84% of those were "unannounced". According to HIQA "most nursing homes can expect one or two inspections a year, but we carry out more inspections in those centres where there are concerns about the care and welfare of residents or where there is repeated non-compliance with the regulations". In 2024, HIQA said 36 nursing homes received three or more inspections in response to persistent non-compliance. "The nursing homes featured in this programme were subject to a number of additional inspections in an effort to bring them into compliance," the HIQA statement said. HIQA said that while the vast majority of nursing homes provide good quality care, it said "a small number... struggle to maintain compliance with the regulations". It said that "where there is persistent non-compliance with the regulations or where there is risk to residents' safety" HIQA's Chief Inspector can take a number of enforcement steps. These may include stopping new admissions "until improvements are made" or "in some cases cancelling the registration of a designated centre". HIQA said it was "conscious" that nursing homes are people's homes and that this latter course of action "can cause significant upset and distress to residents and their families". In 2024 HIQA refused to renew registration or cancelled the registration of ten nursing homes.
