Thomas Gould
Question:493. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether he was requested by HIQA or if he instructed HIQA to investigate a nursing home (details supplied) in February 2021. [50640/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 November 2023
Questions (493, 494, 496, 498, 499)
Thomas Gould
Question:494. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health what role senior personnel from HIQA took in the investigation of a nursing home (details supplied); and the reason for the delay in senior personnel attending the nursing home site in 2021. [50641/23]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:496. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health what specific actions or directions were given to staff in a nursing home (details supplied) in February 2021; and the reason only one inspector attended the site at the time, given the serious concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50643/23]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:498. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether HIQA escalated concerns with potentially untrue information provided in relation to a nursing home (details supplied) in Q1 2021; if so, where these escalations were sent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50645/23]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:499. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the explanation given by CareChoice for the delay in reporting deaths in a nursing home (details supplied) in Q1 2021; and what action was taken in light of this. [50646/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 493, 494, 496, 498 and 499 together.
I propose to respond to PQs 50646/ 50645/ 50643/ 50641/ 50640 together.
The Chief Inspector of Social Services (Chief Inspector) within HIQA, has statutory powers to assess compliance by nursing home providers with the regulations and standards made under the Health Act 2007. All concerns about services brought to the attention of the Chief Inspector are risk-rated and appropriate action is taken to inform regulatory activity.
HIQA carried out an unannounced inspection of the nursing home referred to on 11 February in light of the notification of a significant number of deaths at the centre and following the receipt of a number of unsolicited concerns about the centre. The inspection report for this unannounced inspection can be found on the HIQA website www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/inspection-reports.
The Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 requires the notification to the Chief Inspector within three days of the occurrence of the unexpected death of any resident.
The nursing home did not notify the Chief Inspector of nine unexpected deaths within the required timeframe, and this is outlined in the inspection report of 11 February 2021, where a judgement of non-compliance with the regulations was made in relation to Regulation 31. A compliance plan addressing all areas of non-compliance is published at the end of the inspection report.
It is not unusual for HIQA to conduct single-person inspections.
HIQA continued to engage with the nursing home and a further two inspections were conducted later that year. All three inspection reports can be found at the link provided.
Question No. 494 answered with Question No. 493.