Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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58. To ask the Minister for Health the reason community nursing homes are being treated differently from private nursing homes with regard to the Health Information and Quality Authority standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2396/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The framework for the application of standards by the Health Information and Quality Authority to HSE facilities is set out in the Health Act 2004, Section 7(5)(f) of which provides that, in performing its functions, the HSE shall have regard to “any standards set by the Health Information and Quality Authority, in so far as practicable and subject to the resources available to the Executive".Section 8 (2) (c) of the Health Act 2007 goes on to say that in carrying out its functions, HIQA shall have regard to the resources available to the HSE.

Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, voluntary and private have been registered and inspected by HIQA. In 2013 HIQA issued a regulatory notice in relation to Standard 25, which addresses the physical environment, advising the sector that “where particular criteria regarding premises are not met in the Centre, the provider must provide clear evidence of the other ways by which they are reaching the Standard and must demonstrate to the Chief Inspector that these alternative arrangements are delivering on the Standard for each individual resident. In the case of Standard 25, the Chief Inspector will require substantial and exceptional justification for any premises which purports to meet Standard 25 without implementation of the individual criteria.”

Registration renewals for the majority of public nursing homes are due from the middle of this year. Bearing in mind their age and structure, public nursing homes face real challenges and require investment in excess of the funding that will be available in the short to medium term.

It is important that we do everything possible to apply appropriate standards to all facilities. It is also important to recognise that publicly-run facilities provide bed capacity which is critically needed by older people, particularly by those with high or complex care needs for whom public facilities are often the only place that can meet their needs. Notwithstanding the problems that some facilities face with structures and facilities, the vast majority of their residents receive excellent levels of care. Without these public facilities many older people would simply have nowhere to go, other than our acute hospitals which are already under pressure.

Discussions are ongoing between the HSE and HIQA on the issues that arise for facilities around the country in applying the relevant statutory provision.