Laois TD criticises nursing home inspection regime

A Laois TD has criticised the inspection regimes for nursing homes in Ireland. 

Independent TD Brian Stanley made the comment following the latest meeting with public representatives and HIQA(Health Information and Quality Authority) regarding The Residence Nursing Home in Portlaoise. 

Dep Stanley said “that it is clear that the oversight and inspection system for these facilities is not up to scratch.”

“I raised at the meeting with HIQA’s chief inspector Finbarr Colfer, the substantial time gaps between inspections in both The Residence Nursing Home and Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home, which are both owned by Emeis. I questioned why there was a five-month gap between two inspections in The Residence Nursing Home over the past year, and similarly why there was an almost 15-month gap between inspections at Kilminchy Lodge. They informed the meeting that they endeavour to carry out an inspection, “generally” once in a 12-month period,” said Dep Stanley. 

He said “this is clearly very limited and in the case of nursing homes run by Emeis, where clear issues were coming to the surface, it was totally inadequate. It was made clear that visits and inspections need to be carried out more frequently.”

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Dep Stanley questioned the level of staffing at the facility.  “I also raised with them the issue of staff numbers to resident ratios. Disappointingly, they outlined that none exist. I made the case that for creches, there are very strict guidelines, and a similar system of staff ratios should be in place for elderly care. HIQA indicated that they would seek to have these included in new guidelines that are currently being drafted,” he said.