Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
270. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will order an independent investigation into Covid-19 deaths in a nursing home (details supplied) in County Meath further to the publication of a HIQA report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27779/20]
View answerSince 2009 the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is the statutory independent regulator in place for the nursing home sector. HIQA has significant and wide-ranging powers up to and including withdrawing the registration of a nursing home facility, which means that it can no longer operate as a service provider. This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising of Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and National Quality Standards.
HIQA undertook a regulatory inspection of the nursing home referred to by the Deputy and as part of this met with residents and their families, including the families of some of those who passed away as a result of COVID-19.
Following this inspection, HIQA is satisfied to re-register the nursing home with several improvement focused conditions including in relation to individual assessment and care planning. In their role as regulator, HIQA will continue to inspect individual nursing homes including the nursing home referred to by the Deputy to ensure their compliance with any conditions imposed.
On 19 August 2020, both Minister Donnelly and I launched the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report. This is a significant piece of work which provides a range of recommendations in line with lessons learned to date and international best practice, aimed to safeguard the residents in nursing homes over the next 12-18 months and into the longer term. The report is also informative in identifying areas of older persons’ service and care delivery requiring consideration for further reform. Many of these themes are reflected in the Programme for Government.
Implementing the Report’s short-term recommendations will ensure the ongoing protection of nursing home residents, the preparedness of the nursing homes sector and the health system in response to COVID-19 and the winter ahead. This will involve building on emerging good practice.
I am aware of how difficult a time it is for the families of those who passed away as a result of COVID-19 and would like to express my condolences to those who have lost a loved one during this period.
