EXCLUSIVE: Some 45 concerns in relation to Tipperary nursing homes sent to health watchdog

Some 45 concerns in relation to Tipperary nursing homes were sent to Ireland’s health watchdog in 2021, this newspaper can reveal.

There are more than 30 nursing homes across Tipperary catering to hundreds of residents throughout the county. 

Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) received 45 concerns in relation to Tipperary nursing homes last year. 

Most of the complaints related to concerns alleging poor governance, safeguarding of residents and staffing levels and turnover.

One person highlighted concerns surrounding the “management of allegations of abuse” at one nursing home in Tipperary. 

Other concerns alleged that there was a lack of infection prevention and control measures, unprofessional behaviour and question marks over residents’ consent to featuring in videos that were uploaded onto social media platforms. 

Nine of the concerns seen by this reporter were redacted by HIQA. 

In a statement to this reporter, a spokesperson for HIQA said: “All unsolicited information received is acknowledged, logged and examined by HIQA. 

“If the information relates to a service within HIQA’s remit, it is reviewed by an inspector to establish if the information received indicates a risk to the safety, effectiveness, and management of the service, and the day-to-day care the resident or patient receives.”

If HIQA considers that a nursing home may not be compliant with regulations or national standards, the watchdog has a number of responses available to it, the spokesperson explained. 

HIQA can “respond by asking the service provider to submit additional information on the issue, requesting a plan from the service provider outlining how the issue will be investigated and addressed, using the information on inspection, or by carrying out an unannounced inspection to assess the quality and safety of the care being provided in the service”.

Where the information indicates that people may be at immediate risk, HIQA will use its full legal powers and report the incident, where appropriate, to the Gardaí, Tusla or the HSE’s adult safeguarding team, the spokesperson added. 

“All immediate and or serious safeguarding concerns are referred directly to either Tusla, the HSE’s adult safeguarding team or the Mental Health Commission.”

Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) stated that while HIQA accepts “unsolicited information” regarding nursing home care, “the submission of such does not necessarily constitute a complaint”. 

In 2017, HIQA analysis revealed that two percent of unsolicited information submitted to the watchdog led to targeted inspections, while 41 percent led to engagement with the provider. No concerns were referred to other authorities for examination or investigation.

NHI CEO Tadhg Daly said the Covid-19 pandemic left nursing homes on the frontline facing huge pressure. 

He added that the nursing home sector is one of the most heavily regulated elements of the Irish health sector and is subject to a robust and transparent regulation and inspection process. 

Mr Daly stated that any person with a concern or complaint is required to initially bring it to the attention of the nursing home, which is required to have a complaints process that is accessible, effective and prominently displayed.

Mr Daly explained that all complaints must be investigated promptly, fully, properly recorded by the nursing home and a complainant must not be adversely affected. 

A failure to resolve with the nursing home means the complainant then has recourse to escalate it to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation. 

“HIQA risk assesses all the information it receives against the stringent national regulations and standards applied to nursing homes,” Mr Daly added. 

“If there is a risk to the health and welfare of a person receiving care, it can and does take further action, with powers of enforcement including imposition of conditions on the registration of registered providers and-or up to cancellation of registration.”