Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1713. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for an independent evaluation of the operation of the system of regulatory oversight of nursing homes; his plans for an independent evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40070/22]
View answerAn independent COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established in May 2020 to review the experience of the pandemic in nursing homes nationally and internationally at that time and to provide real-time learnings and recommendations. The Expert Panel’s report, published in August 2020, outlines the key protective measures required for the response to COVID-19 in the shorter-term. The report also makes a series of recommendations in relation to broader reform of older persons’ care. Work is ongoing across health agencies and stakeholders to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel. The fourth progress report was published in June 2022 and is available along with the three previous progress reports on my Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/c7f5b-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-report-implementation-oversight-team/).
One area of reform recommended by the Expert Panel relates to a review of the nursing home regulatory regime. In March 2022, Government approval was granted to draft a General Scheme for a Bill to provide interim enhancements to the regulatory framework in relation to compliance mechanisms and data collection. A wider review of the nursing home regulatory model will commence in the second half of 2022 which will be informed by an international evidence review and stakeholder consultation.
My Department is also examining complaints processes across the nursing home sector, and in tandem with this work, the Patient Advocacy Service (PAS), which currently supports residents in HSE-operated nursing homes to make complaints, will begin its roll-out to private nursing homes at the end of 2022.
