David Norris (Independent)

I join Senator Brian Hayes in asking for a debate on nursing homes' treatment of the elderly and congratulate a former Member, now Deputy O'Dowd, who was crucially involved in this matter. I say that because he is a former Member of this House and a fine politician not from any partisan view because there are many on the other side who are equally concerned and have a professional commitment in this area. It was very worrying to see the development of bed sores. Last night's broadcast was an excellent informational programme on which RTE should be congratulated for having taken the risk. Attempts were made to prevent RTE showing it. The programme highlighted issues such as the development of bed sores. Most people just assumed, as I did, that bed sores develop automatically in certain circumstances when people are old but the experts said there is absolutely no reason for them if people are turned in their beds in the proper way. We have learned a great deal from the programme, which was quite shocking.

We should consider legislation in this area as we must strengthen the inspectorate. What is the point of giving warnings to those who are inspecting? If it is announced in advance that inspectors are coming to inspect a nursing home, one blows one's chances of finding anything wrong. A nursing home has never been fined or closed although there are 30 nursing homes against which there are complaints. I do not believe this is confined to private nursing homes. Those elderly persons in the care of the State need to be looked after also because I know there are problems in that area, partly because of understaffing, pressure being exerted on people and so on. One could not say that in the case of private nursing homes charging €45,000 per year. I would expect to get cocktails at 4 p.m. and to be turned every half an hour if I so decided.