Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The inspection of private nursing homes is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990. The 1990 Act provides for the registration and procedures for attaching conditions to the registration of private nursing homes and for de-registering homes. The Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993 set out the standards to which private nursing homes must adhere to remain as private nursing homes.

In accordance with the regulations, the Health Service Executive carries out inspections of private nursing homes. The HSE has inspection teams in each area. Each team comprises a senior area medical officer, a director or assistant director of public health nursing and a principal or senior environmental health officer.

Each nursing home receives an integrated report following inspection which contains recommendations on best practice, which are required for continued registration. Under the 1990 Health (Nursing Homes) Act and the 1993 regulations, the Health Service Executive can attach particular conditions to registration. Any deviation from these conditions can be subject to sanction. The type of breaches identified during inspection by the HSE include contracts of care with relevance to detail of fees and updating of fees, undertaking regular fire drills and maintenance of fire fighting equipment, hygiene levels, care levels, accident prevention policies, drug record maintenance systems, accuracy of staff rotas and appropriate stimulation-entertainment activities for clients to engage in.

Two inspections per year of every nursing home are required in accordance with article 44 of the regulations. In addition, the inspection teams carry out follow-up inspections as required and also conduct advice visits for prospective nursing homes. The HSE is committed to publishing inspections reports on nursing homes and this will happen from mid-July onwards.

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