€40 m regulator apologises for 'shocking' 'let down' at Laois nursing home
HIQA confirms admissions still banned to Portlaoise home at centre of controversy
Ireland's nursing home regulator has issued a new apology for shortcomings in its oversight of nursing homes in Portlaoise and elsewhere and says it will learn and strengthen as a result.
The message was conveyed to TDs in recent days at the Dáil Public Accounts Committee by the Chief Executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) which has also confirmed that an admission ban remains in place at The Residence in Portlaoise.
Speaking ahead of the meeting on July 17, Leas-Chathaoirleach Deputy Paul McAuliffe, it was the first time in several years that HIQA has appeared before the Committee which monitors the spending of public money, a significant amount of which goes to HIQA.
He said a key focus of the meeting was to discuss revelations from an RTÉ Investigates programme which featured the care of residents in two nursing homes within the Emeis Ireland group of nursing homes — The Residence, Portlaoise and Firstcare Beneavin Manor.
A PAC statement said HIQA’s total income for 2023 was €38.4 m of which €23.9 million comes from taxpayers by the Department of Health. HIQA spent €38.3 million in 2023.
In an opening statement provided to the Leinster Express / Laois Live Angela Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of HIQA, addressed the failings at the nursing homes in Laois and Dublin revealed by RTÉ.
Portlaoise nursing homes homes The Residence and the Kilminchy Lodge are both run by Emeis Ireland.
"The recent RTÉ Investigates programme was incredibly distressing and I want to apologise again to those directly affected and anyone who feels let down by HIQA. What it showed was shocking and should never have happened.
"We are taking regulatory action in the nursing homes featured in the programme. Arising from the programme, we are working closely with the Minister for Older People and the Department to look at areas where the regulatory and policy framework for nursing homes can be strengthened.
"We are engaging directly with residents and families on their specific concerns.
"It is also important that we look at ourselves. We have committed publicly to review how we inspect and regulate nursing homes and to use the learning to strengthen our regulatory role and its impact," she said.
Ms Fitzgerald said HIQA is looking at how we can strengthen its approach to providers’ own assessments. She said there is als a focus on the collection of data to support ongoing monitoring surveillance between inspections.
Communication with the public about HIQA's regulatory roles and functions is also being worked on.
"In line with our organisational values, we are committed to ongoing improvements in the quality of our work," she said in her opening statement.
She said the Chief Inspector of Social Services within HIQA regulates 547 nursing homes and over 1,600 centres for people with a disability. She added that the Chief Inspector also regulates children special care units and monitors children’s social services against the national standards.
Admissions to The Residence were stopped before the RTE programme. The purpose-built facility which opened in 2023, was told in February this year that admissions would be stopped it was eventually enacted on April 22 but Emeis Ireland admitted that it continued to admit people after this date.
A spokesperson for HIQA confirmed to the Leinster Express that the restrictive condition regarding admissions is still in place in The Residence, Portlaoise. The home as a capacity for 101 residents. There were 70 people accommodated there in February, according to a HIQA report, which led to restrictions on its operations over failings.
Emeis Ireland halted admissions to its other nursing homes in the wake of the documentary. This includes the Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home in Portlaoise. New deficits were found at that home by HIQA in its national review of Emeis facilities.
HIQA could not say if admissions had recommenced to the Kilminchy Lodge home, referring the Leinster Express / Laois Live to Emeis Ireland.