Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
1126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether the standard of care in private care homes, as well as the standard of training and vetting of staff, are the same as the standards employed in HSE-run care homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47428/23]
View answerThe Chief Inspector of Social Services in the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is the statutory independent regulator in place for the nursing home sector, whether a HSE managed or a private nursing home. The Chief Inspector, established under the Health Act 2007, 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 for older people and national standards for infection prevention and control. The Regulations contain provisions for the purposes of ensuring proper standards for designated centres for older people. These include provisions in respect of staff training and Garda Vetting. In addition, the registered provider must ensure that the designated centre has written policies and procedures in relation to staff training and development and the recruitment, selection and vetting of staff.
The Chief Inspector, in discharging her duties determines, through examination of all information available to her, including site inspections, whether a nursing home meets the regulations in order to achieve and maintain its registration status.
