Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2024
258. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health what the lessons have been for public health policy of managing a pandemic in nursing home settings; and whether new protocols are being put in place to embed these lessons. [15934/24]
View answerVarious examinations and reports with a focus on COVID-19, its impact on nursing homes and the pandemic learnings that can inform future policy, regulation, and the model of care for older persons have been undertaken.
In particular, the independent COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established in May 2020 to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort in nursing homes. The panel identified learnings and recommendations to inform the approach to the management and mitigation of risk to older persons resident in nursing homes as the pandemic evolved.
The Expert Panel recommendations have provided a guiding framework not only for the pandemic response in nursing homes but also more broadly for a wide-ranging programme of improvement and reform for older persons’ care, in residential care settings. Four Nursing Homes Expert Panel Implementation Progress Reports have been published since the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel published its report in August 2020. In addition, an implementation progress update was published in October 2023, which highlighted the important progress that had already taken place and that 54 of the 86 recommendations have already been implemented and mainstreamed into normal operations. All reports can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/c7f5b-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-report-implementation-oversight-team/#progress-reports
The Government is committed to the implementation of the Expert Panel recommendations, and a number of supports which were provided to nursing homes during the pandemic remain in place such as:
• Community Response Teams.
• The provision of free PPE and oxygen to private nursing homes continues.
• The establishment of a €10m Nursing Home Resident Safety Improvement Scheme in January 2024 to assist private and voluntary nursing homes attend to capital issues relating to IPC.
• Additional Community Infection and Prevention Control resources for nursing homes.
• Substantial support and advice through the Departments of Public Health and Outbreak Control Teams.
• HSE training and development resources through HSELanD to private and voluntary providers.
• A substantial suite of publicly available guidance on HPSC and HIQA websites.
In addition, a Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group, established in January 2022, was tasked with identifying key learnings from the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a view towards strengthening health protection generally and future pandemic preparedness specifically. The final report indicated that the early and rapid review and implementation of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel recommendations will have a lasting public policy impact for older people.
It has also been confirmed that a comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will be undertaken which will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with the pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-Government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar event were to occur. This will include a consideration of the health service response, covering hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with the wider economic and social response. It is intended to have a public element to hear the lived experiences of all society. The review should be undertaken by those independent of the national response and with relevant expertise. A consultation with opposition parties and stakeholders has taken place on draft terms of reference. It is intended to bring the terms of reference to Government shortly.
