Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
492. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health his plans to review Departmental policy on nursing homes in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the high death rate among residents of such homes; and his further plans to include in this review nursing home developments that have planning permission but that have not commenced construction. [12271/20]
View answerThe actions and measures we have taken in Ireland to support nursing homes and their residents have been taken and have evolved on foot of epidemiological data and guidance from the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). These measures have been both society wide (e.g. cocooning), as well as focused specifically on residential facilities.
As the disease has progressed, a range of enhanced measures for nursing homes recommended by NPHET on 31st March and 3rd April are being implemented. In recognition that there is an expected ongoing COVID-19 impact over the next 6-18 months NPHET has emphasised the importance of real-time learning and a forward-looking approach for nursing homes. Therefore at the meeting 14th May, NPHET recommended the establishment of an expert panel (COVID-19 Nursing Home Expert Panel – examination of measures to 2021) which, through examination of national and international measures in response to COVID-19 and emerging best practice, will make recommendations to the Minister for Health, by the end of June 2020, to ensure all protective COVID-19 response measures are planned, for in light of the expected ongoing COVID19 risk and impact for nursing homes over the next 6-18 months. This panel comprises public health, geriatric, nursing and public representation expertise.
Recent studies commissioned by the Department of Health such as the Review of Health Demand and Capacity Requirements in Ireland to 2031 - Findings and Recommendations(2018) and the ESRI's Projections of Demand for Healthcare in Ireland, 2015-2030 (2017), indicate the significant role that long-term residential care will play in the future. Both reports indicate a substantial additional demand for community bed capacity, short-stay and long-stay, over the coming 10 years. Community beds play and will continue to play an important role in the continuum of care for older people, including for residential care, rehabilitative care, convalescence and transitional care. Additionally, services such as intermediate care and reablement require further policy exploration.
Long-term residential care is often the most appropriate care option where an older person’s needs are complex. In Ireland the care model, however, for the older population is disproportionately geared towards residential care as opposed to supporting older people to remain living independently at home for longer. This is why enhanced, better structured and integrated community supports are part of the larger health and social care reform programme that is underway in the context of Sláintecare. Increased access to home support in the short-term and the development of a reformed model of home support through a statutory home scheme are key in this regard and the development and testing of a new home support scheme is a priority objective for my Department. Similarly, there is a compelling case for examining the potential of new housing models, including those with associated care and support models which fall between home care and full-time nursing home care. The collaborative development of the policy framework, "Housing Options for Our Ageing Population" by my Department and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in 2019 provides an important framework to the further exploration of, and development of policy with regard housing for older persons and integrated of housing and health and social care services.
