Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
444. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to report on the action which has been taken on foot of the recommendations of the Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response; if he will specifically address the recommendation for a review into the impact of nursing home privatisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31982/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is advised that I fully acknowledge the important work carried out by the Special Committee on COVID-19 Response and the recommendations published in the Committee’s final report on 8th October 2020. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve, presenting new challenges, and requiring an adaptive and agile response. Over the course of the pandemic, we adapted our responses in line with new evidence and greater national and international understanding of COVID-19. This is evidenced through the publication of “Ireland’s National Action Plan in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)”, “Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business”, “Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 Plan for Living with COVID-19”, “COVID-19 Resilience & Recovery 2021 The Path Ahead", and "COVID-19 Reframing the challenge, Continuing our recovery and reconnecting”.
With respect to the recommendation for a review into the impact of nursing home privatisation, the Minister with responsibility for Mental Health and Older Persons, Mary Butler T.D., acknowledges that the nursing home sector has evolved over the last 30 years from a predominantly State led service to a situation today where approximately 80% of nursing home services are provided by the private sector. The Minister is aware of the investment trends in the Irish residential care market, the growing consolidation of the sector, and the complex investment and ownership structures that now exist. The Minister is equally aware of the potential risks and unintended consequences associated with the level of care services currently being provided by the private sector.
While it is the Government’s overarching policy to provide a greater level and volume of care in the community and to support older people to live at home for longer, it is recognised that nursing home care will continue to be an important part of the continuum of care into the future. It is therefore important that all aspects of the nursing home sector are scrutinised over the coming years to ensure that service delivery and configuration meet the needs of service users in a sustainable and safe manner. In this context, the issue of provider configuration and the extent of private provision may need to be addressed further in public policy and, where appropriate, legislation.
COVID-19 has highlighted the important need to move to new models of care for older people. This will involve short and long-term reform across Government in order to provide new housing models, new ‘home-first’ care models, and where long-term care is needed, ensure that it is provided with innovative designs that can meet infection prevention and control requirements and provide an appropriate home for those who need this type of care. For those who avail of long-term residential care, it is also critical that public investment in this infrastructure is maintained at a level that enables the appropriate standards to be met and that public residential care capacity is increased in the coming years.
