Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
1157. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if requests to investigate allegations of ill treatment in a nursing home (details supplied) have been received; if the matter is being investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15433/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2009 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 Authority, 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.
HIQA in discharging its duties determines, through examination of all information available to it, including site inspections, whether a nursing home meets the regulations in order to achieve and maintain its registration status.
Should a nursing home be deemed to be non-compliant with the Regulations and the National Quality Standards, it may either fail to achieve or lose its registration status. In addition, the Chief Inspector has wide discretion in deciding whether to impose conditions of registration on nursing homes.
During the response to COVID-19, Nursing homes continue to be regulated by HIQA, who under the Health Act 2007 have the legal authority to examine the operation of any facility under their remit.
While HIQA does not investigate individual complaints about a health or social care service under the Health Act 2007, all information received (solicited and unsolicited) is reviewed and risk assessed. Information is then used in a number of ways to establish if a service is safe, effective, caring, and well managed. All information pertinent to individual nursing homes, or information which might indicate a risk to residents, is addressed with providers on a case-by-case basis.
I would urge that anyone that is aware of an individual case or cases of concern that they should be brought to the attention of HIQA and were relevant the HSE.
