Joint Committee on Health meets to discuss standards of care and related practices in nursing homes along with the oversight of these matters

The meeting in 2 sessions will discuss standards of care and related practices in nursing homes along with the oversight of these matters:

9:45am

·       Ms Angela Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Health Information and Quality Authority

·       Finbarr Colfer, Chief Inspector of Social Services, Health Information and Quality Authority

·       Susan Cliffe, Deputy Chief Inspector with responsibility for services for older persons, Health Information and Quality Authority

11:00am

·       Minister Kieran O'Donnell, Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Pádraig Rice said “the recent controversies highlighting poor practices within Irish nursing homes have been both shocking and unacceptable. Our meeting with HIQA and the Minister will allow us to get detailed information on how these conditions and attitudes were allowed. 

“We will look to HIQA and Minister O’Donnell to answer on the credibility of the inspection reports along with minimum staffing and resource requirements. We will seek assurances that regulations are in place so that Ireland’s nursing homes are well staffed and resourced so that our older people are treated in a safe and caring environment. We will also be discussing the privatised model of nursing care and the ongoing issues with inadequate homecare.”  

The Committee meeting can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Read more on the work done by the Joint Committee on Health

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.