HIQA to 'review' second Portlaoise nursing home as Minister intervenes

The operation at a sister nursing home of The Residence in Laois is set to come under the microscope following the intervention of a Government minister.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that following the RTÉ Investigation programme, it is to commence a review of all nursing homes in Emeis Ireland.

The French-owned care group operates two homes in Portlaoise - The Residence and the Kilminchy Lodge.  

"At the request of the Minister of State with responsibility for Older People (Kieran O'Donnell), HIQA has also commenced a review of all nursing homes operated by the provider group," said a HIQA statement.

It added: "While these processes are ongoing and so as not to prejudice the outcome of this work, we cannot comment further until this work is concluded".

The statement said HIQA is "very concerned about the revelations" detailed by RTÉ and "their impact on residents and their families".

"The practices shown in the programme were wholly unacceptable and shocking," said HIQA.

HIQA said its Chief Inspector is taking "escalated regulatory action" in the nursing homes identified.

"We will take any necessary additional actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents," it said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The Residence at the Maltings off the Mountmellick Road.

Emeis says Kilminchy Lodge is a "purpose-built, state-of-the-art" residential care home set in landscaped gardens in "beautiful Co Laois" and within walking distance of local amenities.

It said the home has been fully refurbished, adding an additional 22 beds to this great home

"Our dedicated team delivers a wide range of care services and social activities, including in-house hairdressing, access to dieticians, speech and language therapists, as well as community dental, optical and chiropody (on request). We create a personalised care and lifestyle plan for each resident so they can live as independently and actively," says the Emeis website as regards Kilminchy Lodge.

READ ALSO: Outcry in Laois over The Residence revelations

Located off the Dublin Road in Portlaoise, Kilminchy has a capacity for 74 residents. It was previously owned by the Brindley Healthcare Limited, which was acquired by Orpea Care Ireland Limited. Orpea was subsequently rebranded as Emeis.

Emeis has apologised for failings at The Residence.

HIQA report in August 2024 found that residents told the inspector that the care and support they received was of a very good standard. They said they felt at home, safe and comfortable living in the centre. Residents described the staff as kind, respectful and patient, and this made residents feel safe in their care.

However, an inspector noted that the management of records at the home was not in keeping with regulatory requirements.

This included the record of a resident suffering an injury not containing all of the required information. Records of specialist treatment care were also not in line with requirements, according to the report.

It found records of safety checks for residents at high risk of absconsion were poorly maintained and unavailable for review.