Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
598. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he has met recently with an organisation (details supplied); his view of the proposal to provide for care partners for vulnerable people in hospitals, hospices, care homes and other health settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22625/24]
View answerAs Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I have met with the Care Champions group previously, and heard the concerns as set out at the meeting and in further correspondence received. I recognise how difficult it was for people living in nursing homes and their families throughout the pandemic.
I am fully committed to the continued improvement of older persons services, including long term residential care. To this end, there has been significant learnings from the experience and impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and these learnings are informing a series of reforms which were recommended in the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report.
I understand that the Deputy is referring to a care partner scheme similar to that introduced in Northern Ireland in 2022 as a response to the pandemic. As the Deputy may be aware, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) published guidance for visiting in long term residential care facilities during the pandemic, entitled “COVID-19: Normalising Access in Long Term Residential Care Facilities (LTRCFs)”, which came into effect on 8 February 2022. In order to support the mental health, wellbeing and social connection for residents, the guidance provided that each resident should have the opportunity to identify a nominated support person who would have regular and unrestricted access to the resident for most of the day and is considered a partner in care. This guidance was updated in December 2023 and the current version is available on the HPSC website, www.hpsc.ie/az/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/residentialcarefacilities/IPC%20and%20PH%20guidance%20for%20outbreaks.pdf
A focused piece of work is currently underway in the Department to ensure that residents rights to visiting are protected, even during outbreaks of infectious diseases. This includes consideration of the care partner scheme that operated in Northern Ireland. This work will build on enhancements to the Care and Welfare Regulations 2013, which came into effect on 1 March 2023, in relation to access to advocacy services and standardising complaints procedures in nursing homes.
The Patient Advocacy Service (PAS) is a national service commissioned and funded by the Department of Health. It provides a free and independent national service which helps people using healthcare services to make a formal complaint regarding the care they have received. In line with a Programme for Government commitment, the PAS was extended to private nursing homes from 1st November 2022 and amendments to legislation to support this rollout and to streamline complaints processes in nursing homes came into effect on 1 March 2023. It is hoped that the amendments will place a greater focus on the voice of the resident in order to address their concerns in an appropriate, timely manner.
