Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021
221. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes that were late submitting NFO1 forms in 2020; the number of serious incidents that were reported to HIQA in 2020; if HIQA included serious incidents in its reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12353/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHIQA have informed me that the Chief Inspector is notified by persons in charge of nursing homes of many issues pertaining to the care and welfare of residents. Registered providers or persons in charge of a designated centre, are legally required to notify the Chief Inspector within certain timeframes about incidents, events or changes affecting the wellbeing of residents within 72 hours of the event happening. In 2020, the Chief Inspector received over 8000 notifications of incidents, 1833 of these were NF01 notifications. A NF01 notification covers an unexpected death of any resident, including the death of any resident following transfer to hospital from the designated centre.
It is not possible to retrieve data on the number of these notifications which were submitted late. The Chief Inspector can retrieve the forms submitted, however the system does not capture when notifications are submitted outside of the 72 hour timeframe, but where there are delays the Chief Inspector works with services on a case by case basis.
Notifications HIQA receives from nursing homes are reported in the annual overview report on the regulation of designated centres for older persons.
