Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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384. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the levels of nursing cover and skills required to care for residents in nursing homes and arrangements for general practitioner support are in line with international best practice; and his plans to address shortcomings. [5485/17]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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386. To ask the Minister for Health if residents in all nursing homes are entitled to access independent advocacy regardless of the views of family members and nursing home proprietors. [5487/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 386 together.

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 nursing homes - public, voluntary, and private have been registered and inspected by HIQA.

This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive framework, including the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People and the Health Act, 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations, 2013. The Regulations require that registered providers must ensure that the number and skill mix of staff is appropriate having regard to the assessed needs of the residents and the size and layout of the designated centre. In addition registered providers shall, in so far as is reasonably practical, ensure that a resident has access to independent advocacy services.

It is the responsibility of HIQA to assess whether residential services are providing high quality, safe and effective services and supports to residents, and to ensure that any issues or deficits are addressed to the satisfaction of the Authority. HIQA’s programme of both scheduled and unannounced inspections is aimed at ensuring that standards are maintained and where issues of non-compliance arise, that these are addressed and rectified. If a nursing home is found not to be in compliance with the Regulations it may either fail to achieve or lose its registration status. HIQA also has wide discretion in deciding whether to impose conditions of registration on nursing homes