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Nursing Home Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021

Thursday, 4 March 2021

Questions (225)

Gerald Nash

Question:

225. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes he directly requested the CEO of the HSE to support and to examine the support needed in March and April 2020. [12358/21]

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Written answers

Sustained communication and interagency cooperation has been central to the response to COVID-19. Extensive, ongoing and problem-solving collaboration between stakeholders, the HSE, the NTPF, HIQA and the Department continues. The State’s responsibility to respond to the public health emergency created the need for the HSE to establish a structured nursing home support system in line with NPHET recommendations in March 2020. This has been a critical intervention in supporting the resilience of the sector in meeting the unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19. Guidance, PPE, staffing, serial testing, infection prevention and control training, accommodation and financial support have been provided to the nursing home sector, both public and private. In addition, multi-disciplinary clinical supports are in place at CHO level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams.

In the context of the collaborative arrangements, through engagement with registered providers through inspections, check ins and review of notifications and other information, the Chief Inspector of HIQA notifies actual or potential risk when appropriate to the HSE for the purpose of identifying service providers that may require additional external support such as IPC and public health advice, PPE, clinical input etc. This support, where possible and appropriate, is typically provided by the HSE COVID-19 response teams. In accordance with the regulatory framework, irrespective of the availability, or not, of additional HSE support to providers, nursing home operators retain legal responsibility for delivering safe care in accordance with regulation, and the regulatory oversight is provided by HIQA. Where the Department, including through the Ministers Office receives information regarding a nursing home requiring support, where appropriate, details are provided to the HSE and/or HIQA for appropriate follow up in line with the established structures.

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