Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
270. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes that were found non compliant in relation to regulations each year from 2018 to 2022 inclusive, in tabular form; the total number of inspections for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14331/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra271. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes that were found non compliant in relation to Regulation 15: Staffing each year from 2018 to 2022 inclusive, in tabular form; the total number of inspections for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14332/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra272. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes that were found non compliant in relation Regulation 16: Training and Staff Development each year from 2018 to 2022 inclusive, in tabular form; the total number of inspections for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14333/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra273. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes that were found non compliant in relation to Regulation 5: Individual assessment and care plan in each year from 2018 to 2022 inclusive, in tabular form; the total number of inspections for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14334/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 271, 272 and 273 together.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established in 2007 as an independent regulatory authority to drive high-quality and safe care for health and social care services in Ireland. Since 2009 the Office of the Chief Inspector within HIQA has been responsible for registering and inspecting older persons' public, voluntary and private residential services, including nursing homes.
The Health Act 2007, as amended, provides the overarching regulatory framework for the nursing home sector with further detailed requirements set out in Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and Quality Standards. Inspections of nursing homes are carried out by appointed inspectors of social services in accordance with section 43 (1) and (2) of the Health Act 2007 (as amended). These inspections predominantly focus on compliance with the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013. Although there are 34 such regulations, not all regulations are assessed on each inspection. The specific regulations assessed on each inspection will be informed by:
- Regulatory history.
- Trending of solicited or unsolicited information received since the last inspection.
- Solicited or unsolicited information received which may have triggered the inspection.
- Relevant sectoral information.
The number of regulations that are assessed on an individual inspection will be informed by the perceived risk, size of the nursing home, the number of inspectors and length of time since the previous inspection.
The attached document details the findings of compliance per regulation across all inspections in a given year, between 2018 and 2021. Please note data for 2022 has yet to be finalised.
It is important to note that some regulations are assessed infrequently, for example Regulation 30: Volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the assessment of compliance with regulations 32 and 33 in relation to notifications could only take place where such events actually occurred.
