Vol. 530 No. 3
193 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of private nursing homes in the North Eastern Health Board area; the number of health board patients in each home; the cost in this regard; the number of subverted patients in each home; and the cost in this regard. [4054/01]
The information requested by the Deputy is not, as a matter of course, retained in my Department. I have asked the chief executive of the North Eastern Health Board to have the infomation compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
194 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if contraventions of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations, 1993 and European Communities (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 1998 were noted at a nursing home (details supplied) in County Meath, following inspection by the North Eastern Health Board on 17 April 2000, 13 July 2000, 17 November 2000, 8 December 2000 and 21 December 2000: if so, the action that was taken in this regard following each inspection; the action he now proposed to take in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4055/01]
195 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing homes in the North Eastern Health Board area; the number of inspections in each home annually; if these inspections were by prior notice or at random; the breaches of the regulations which were found; and the action taken in this regard. [4056/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
The Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, requires nursing homes to be registered with their local health board. Regulations made under the Act require that there must be proper standards in nursing homes, including adequate and suitable accommodation, staffing, kitchen and sanitary facilities, access to medical care, facilities for recreation and other arrangements to ensure the health and well-being of residents. Nursing homes are required to renew their registration every three years and a health board may at the time of registration, or subsequently, impose conditions in relation to registration. The regulations provide for periodic inspections at least once every six months by the health boards, which are empowered to prosecute registered proprietors and persons in charge in the event of breaches of the regulations.
The operation of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, in the North Eastern Health Board is a matter for the board itself. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of homes and number of inspections is not, as a matter of course, retained in my Department.
I have asked the chief executive officer of the North Eastern Health Board to compile this information and respond directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
