Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
758. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that HSE safeguarding and protection teams will have the statutory legal right of access to private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35717/22]
View answerI take issues in relation to safeguarding very seriously. My Department is at an advanced stage of developing a national policy on adult safeguarding specifically for the health and social care sector, the policy will cover all public, private, and voluntary settings including private nursing homes. It is anticipated that the policy will cover a wide range of issues, which may include rights of access to premises and records. As a national, sectoral policy it is envisaged that any such provisions would be applied consistently across all settings. In that regard, legislating for a right of access to any setting is a complex matter and the Department and other stakeholders would be required to consider any such a move very carefully to ensure that any such right would be evidence-based and proportionate.
The Department expects in the near future to announce details of a public consultation with the intention of submitting a costed policy to the Government for its approval around the end of 2022. Any required underpinning legislation will be prepared following Government approval of the new policy.
