asked the Minister for Health if private nursing homes, especially those catering for the elderly, are subject to regular inspection; and if he intends to prescribe standards for these homes and to control the cost of accommodation in them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Private Nursing Homes.
6.
Private nursing homes catering for incapacitated persons, for example, elderly people and maternity patients, are regularly inspected. While no set standards are prescribed for such homes, the purpose of such inspections is to ensure adequate standards of care and comfort for patients. This method of control is, generally speaking, regarded as satisfactory and I do not, therefore, propose to prescribe standards for such homes. I understand that charges in such homes are subject to price control.
May I ask the Minister if no standards are set on what basis these homes are accepted?
The inspectors must satisfy themselves on a number of points which I believe are necessary. They must be satisfied about the type and extent of accommodation for the class of patient to be catered for; the adequacy of nursing staff and, where appropriate, medical cover; absence of over-crowding; cooking facilities; sanitary facilities; fire protection arrangements.
Would the Minister not agree that there should be certain standards? It should be possible from the list of the Minister for a set of standards to be arranged which would give the inspectors something to go by.
I would not entirely disagree with the Deputy. I have given the guidelines here.
In regard to certain establishments catering for old people, is the Minister aware that they are not up to the standard set out recently by the health boards? Is the Minister aware of the exorbitant charges for the maintenance of elderly patients? These charges impose very heavy burdens on relatives who wish to maintain elderly persons in these establishments.
I am sure the Deputy must be generalising. Perhaps he is particularising. If there is any particular home which he believes is not up to the desired standard and if the Deputy communicates with me privately, I will have a special inspection made of such home. As far as charges are concerned, I said in the reply that these are subject to price control, presumably under the Department of Industry and Commerce.
Would the Minister consider asking the health boards to compile a list of these homes with a view to registering them in some way so that some standard can be set for such homes? I consider that they are the responsibility of the health boards. Would the Minister ask the health boards to examine these homes?
These homes must be registered by the health boards. Was that the question the Deputy asked?
If they were registered some standard might be set for them.