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Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- 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 Examiner
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Taoiseach ‘shocked' by nursing home abuse uncovered in RTÉ investigation
The Taoiseach has said he is "very, very concerned" about care practices in nursing homes. Micheál Martin was speaking ahead of an RTÉ Investigates programme airing tonight, which exposes dire conditions in some privately run facilities. The programme, Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes, features reporters going undercover at two homes: The Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in north Dublin. It details a litany of disturbing practices, including: A man being refused a toilet break for 25 minutes due to chronic understaffing A resident repeatedly left in an unchanged incontinence pad despite being able to use the toilet and having requests to do so denied 'Fake' activity logs created to show residents engaged in pursuits that never occurred When asked in Dublin today whether it was acceptable for facilities charging between €1,320 and €1,514 per week to treat older patients this way, Mr Martin said early reports from the programme were alarming. "I'm very, very concerned about it. I think it's shocking what is likely to be revealed following the reports I've seen so far," he said. "I've observed two professors with considerable experience in geriatric medicine and dermatology express their shock and also their very clear observations that this is fundamentally abuse of senior citizens in those nursing homes." Mr Martin said the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), which oversees nursing homes, is "doing a lot of work to ensure compliance" and has already engaged with the homes featured in the programme. The Taoiseach also noted that the number of people in nursing homes is declining as a proportion of the overall population. "In other words, the policies of home care, the policies of enhancing collective capacity of people to stay at home and to stay out of nursing homes for longer periods, means we have to double down on those policies in terms of home care solutions, in terms of healthcare lifestyle and so on. "So that's working, but that said, there will be times when people who've no option but to go to nursing homes. And it should be the best possible experience." The investigation also shows staff at both facilities ignoring care plans for frail residents, which state that residents should only be moved using hoists. Instead, staff are seen manually lifting residents by their arms or trouser belts — actions explicitly forbidden under manual handling protocols. Read More Investigation shows dire practices at privately-run nursing homes
Extra.ie
02-06-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
RTE exposes 'appalling' elderly abuse in two nursing homes
Elderly patients are being treated in a 'disrespectful and undignified way on a continual basis' in nursing homes, an RTÉ investigation will claim. The appalling way certain staff have treated elderly patients at two Irish nursing homes will be exposed as part of the station's second investigation into poor standards at homes. The RTÉ Investigates documentary will be screened on Wednesday night, with disturbing undercover footage revealing poor standards and focusing on homes in the Midlands and Dublin. The harrowing programme will show systematic failings and undue pressure being applied on staff to care for numerous residents and patients. An RTÉ spokesman said: 'A number of whistleblowers approached the team with horrific stories of elderly patients being treated in a disrespectful and undignified way on a continual basis. Elderly patients are being treated in a 'disrespectful and undignified way on a continual basis' in nursing homes, an RTÉ investigation will claim. Pic: Getty Images 'RTÉ assigned two researchers who went undercover to investigate in two different centres that are part of a nursing home chain. 'The scenes that will be featured are very upsetting and the issues are distressing. 'We're talking about poor care and appalling neglect. It's a tough watch and a powerful watch.' The exposé is the second such investigation by RTÉ. In 2005, RTÉ revealed the horrific work practices and the treatment of elderly patients at Leas Cross nursing home near Swords, in north Co. Dublin, which led to a major State-backed Commission of Investigation. The report into Leas Cross found there was systematic abuse at the nursing home. The HSE then launched a 'new inspection regime' which it said was 'consistent, robust and vastly improved'. Tomorrow's programme will look at standards being applied by the HSE in the running of the two homes featured, it is understood. Tomorrow's programme will look at standards being applied by the HSE in the running of the two homes featured, it is understood. Pic: Shutterstock The programme-makers liaised with independent experts, and the findings have been reported by RTÉ researchers to HIQA and the local nursing home management, where applicable and in line with expert advice. The findings of the investigation have been shared with the private nursing home group and RTÉ has offered it the right of reply. Professor Rónán Collins, a consultant geriatrician who features in the programme, said: 'The whole episode of care in relation to this man is really quite distressing. I can't say any more how much it goes against every gerontological principle that I hold dear.' Professor David Robinson said the programme showed 'systemic and institutional lack of consideration for the older person. 'This is going to shorten people's lives and their lives will be more miserable,' he added. RTÉ Investigates – Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes airs on Wednesday at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Justice department opens inquiry into Andrew Cuomo's Covid-19 response
The justice department has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor and current frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race. The investigation was launched after Republicans accused Cuomo of mishandling the state's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday. Kicked off about a month ago by the US attorney's office in Washington, the inquiry follows a criminal referral made by James Comer, a Republican representative of Kentucky and chair of the House committee on oversight and government reform. In the referral, Comer recommended Cuomo be 'charged with making false statements to Congress', saying that Cuomo lied on 'numerous occasions about material aspects of New York's Covid-19 nursing home disaster and the ensuing cover-up'. Cuomo faced widespread calls for his resignation in February 2021 after allegations emerged that his administration was underreporting Covid-19-related deaths across the state's nursing homes by as much as half. A leaked recording of Melissa DeRosa, a top Cuomo aide, had her admitting to Democrats that the state withheld the actual numbers out of fear that the justice department would pursue complaints of state misconduct, according to the New York Post. As part of his referral, Comer said: 'This wasn't a slip-up – it was a calculated cover-up by a man seeking to shield himself from responsibility for the devastating loss of life in New York's nursing homes. Let's be clear: lying to Congress is a federal crime. Mr Cuomo must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' He went on to say: 'The House oversight committee is prepared to fully cooperate with the justice department's investigation into Andrew Cuomo's actions and ensure he's held to account.' In response to the reports, a Cuomo spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, said: 'We have never been informed of any such matter, so why would someone leak it now? The answer is obvious: this is lawfare and election interference plain and simple – something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against. 'Governor Cuomo testified truthfully to the best of his recollection about events from four years earlier, and he offered to address any follow-up questions from the subcommittee – but from the beginning this was all transparently political,' Azzopardi added. The US attorney's office, which was previously led by Ed Martin, is now headed by Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host and prosecutor. Pirro was appointed by Trump after Martin's nomination to permanently run the office was withdrawn following Senate Republicans' concern over his ability to serve, the New York Times reported. Despite his frontrunner status in the mayoral race, Cuomo has been an embattled figure in politics in recent years. He resigned as governor in 2021 after an investigation by the state attorney general, Letitia James, which found that he sexually harassed multiple women and retaliated against those who made complaints. Shortly after Cuomo announced his decision to run for New York City mayor in March, the justice department dropped its corruption case against the city's current mayor, Eric Adams. Adams pleaded not guilty to accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials in exchange for favors. The apparent investigation into Cuomo comes as Adams, a Democrat who announced his intention to run for re-election as an independent, is at the heart of a scandal over his acquiescence to Trump officials to cooperate on immigration crackdowns while attempting to evade criminal charges.
