Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1319. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on whether in-house reports on Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths created solely by the nursing home management are adequate to report on, address concerns and ensure learning about outbreaks of Covid-19 and the deaths and infection of residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/21]
View answerNursing home providers are ultimately responsible for the safe care of their residents. Reports of this nature are completed by registered providers. I am advised by HIQA that its inspections are focused on reviewing the systems in place to ensure safe care for residents. To this end the Chief Inspector published “COVID-19 – an assurance framework for providers” last September to ensure that providers are continuously reviewing their service and making changes as new information / guidance becomes available or following an outbreak. Inspectors may ask to review the associated providers self-assessment and quality improvement document.
Where inspectors are concerned that the provider may not have addressed issues which were identified during an outbreak these will be reviewed – if the solution is allowed for in the current legal and regulatory framework then compliance is required. Where inspectors are not assured that the provider has the expertise to address issues of concern (particularly in the area of infection prevention and control) then a request can be made to the HSE crisis response team to support the provider in addressing these issues.
The Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort. This Expert Panel report has added further to our knowledge and learning. This report clearly outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes. These actions are based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19 to date.
The report also recommends additional analysis and examination of the relevant public health and other data sets in order that further causal and protective factors for COVID-19 clusters are identified.
Work to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel report, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, is ongoing across all of the health agencies and stakeholders. Continued learning and understanding of progression of the disease in Ireland is an integral part of those recommendations.
