Mr. Phelim Quinn:

In local clinical governance, a number of nursing homes have a system whereby they link in with GPs, have assigned GPs or, in some instances, have medical officers who take responsibility for clinical governance arrangements. Obviously, individual residents who may have been referred into gerontology or other forms of services have specific links in that way. The key issue I outlined in my opening statement is the fact that there is no specific national structure or control in the context of the clinical oversight of the care of people who have been admitted to nursing homes as a result of multidisciplinary or other assessments. That absence is problematic as matters stand.

On minimum staffing levels, I will defer to Ms Dunnion in her role as chief inspector of social services. Issues in that regard were raised in the session this morning.