Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

125. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5093/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health Information and Quality Authority is the independent authority established under the Health Act 2007 to drive continuous improvement and to monitor safety and quality in Ireland’s health and personal social care services. Since 2009 all designated centres for older people, i.e. public, private and voluntary nursing homes, have been registered and inspected by HIQA.

There are 566 designated centres for older persons. In 2014 HIQA completed 762 inspections. At least one inspection took place in 97% of the total number of registered centres. Inspections may be announced or unannounced and are planned as part of HIQA’s annual schedule of monitoring and registration renewal. In 2014 58% of inspections of older person’s centres were unannounced.

The majority of announced inspections related to the registration renewal programme where the announcing of the inspection enables greater participation of residents and relatives as they are aware in advance of when inspectors will be in the centre.