HSE takes charge of Laois nursing home after HIQA court application

The HSE has taken over the operation of Droimnín Nursing Home after its nursing home registration was cancelled following concerns about the welfare of residents at the Stradbally facility. 

At a sitting of Portlaoise District Court earlier today, Judge Andrew Cody granted the application to remove the registration by consent and for the HSE to take over the running of the home from 2pm today. He placed an embargo on the reporting of the court proceedings until 5pm in order that residents and staff be informed of the decision.  

Judge Cody said there were staff, 39 elderly residents and their families to consider and he didn’t want them hearing about the matter on the news. He said the wellbeing of the residents was of “paramount importance” to the court. 

The Chief Inspector of Social Services at Health Information and Quality Authority(HIQA) first brought an application before the court to remove the home from the nursing home register in September 2025 due to the risk HIQA felt it posed to life or welfare. The Section 59 application of the 2007 Health Act was brought on foot of a HIQA inspection a week earlier on September 7 and 8, 2025. 

At the time, both parties were given the opportunity to engage in mediation and the nursing home provider gave an assurance that no additional residents would be taken on. Counsel for the operator also said work was underway to address the issues raised. 

Counsel for HIQA, Alison Fynes BL had stressed the urgency of the Section 59 application and told the court that HIQA had only moved such an application four times since 2016. She said concerns had been raised during the September 7 and 8 inspection for three residents at the home and one of them had sadly since died.  

At today’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court, Helen Callanan SC said the HSE was “coming in as provider of last resort” due to the application. She said while the HSE doesn't automatically come in as employer of the staff at the home, they would undertake to pay the staff wages. 

The operators of Droimnín Nursing Home agreed to direct their staff and any agency staff to cooperate with the HSE and to facilitate the HSE in taking over the running of the home. 

Solicitor Matthew Austin said “we don’t have full control. We are tenants in the facility”. He said they couldn’t be held responsible “if the landlord were to take unforeseen action”. However, he said his client would agree to allowing the use of the facilities to which it has access. 

Judge Cody noted that on consent the HSE had joined as notice party in the proceedings.

On consent it was ordered that the registration of Droimnin Nursing Home Limited as the registered provider of Droimnin Nursing Home, with an address at Brockley Park, Stradbally be cancelled as a designated centre under Part 8 of the Health Act 2007 on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 2pm. 

The HSE was directed, pursuant to Section 64 of the Health Act 2007, to make alternative arrangements for the residents of  Droimnín Nursing Home.  

The HSE was directed, pending the making of the alternative arrangements by it, to take charge of Droimnín Nursing Home and to carry on its business from 2pm as if Droimnín Nursing Home Limited was registered under the Health Act 2007 with the HSE as its registered provider. 

Droimnín Nursing Home was ordered to fully cooperate with the HSE and to direct its employees, its servants or agents and corporate officers to co-operate fully with the HSE and its personnel. 

It was also ordered to assist and cooperate with the HSE in moving residents from the designated centre and to release all records (including medical records) of its residents to the HSE.  The court was told this is to be done “for the duration of the HSE being in charge and until the finalisation of all alternative arrangements to be made by the HSE”. The court noted that the HSE assumed no obligations as employer of any of the staff due to the transfer.