David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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294. To ask the Minister for Health his views on clinical governance in private nursing homes; his plans for reform in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17888/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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HIQA is the independent statutory authority responsible for regulating residential care services for older people, whether delivered in a nursing home managed by the HSE or a private provider. Services are only allowed to operate if they are registered with HIQA and they are inspected regularly to ensure that they maintain a high level of care. HIQA has significant and wide-ranging powers, up to and including, the cancellation of the registration of a nursing home, where it has significant concerns about the quality of governance and oversight in such services.

It should be noted that registered providers must provide appropriate medical and health care, including a high standard of evidence-based nursing care in accordance with professional guidelines. Furthermore, regulations provide that a nursing home must have a person in charge. In cases where the person in charge is also the registered provider, that person may be a registered medical practitioner with required experience. Where the registered provider is not the person in charge, the person in charge must be a registered nurse with the required qualifications and experience.

Notwithstanding the fact that the primary legal responsibility lies with individual providers, as recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on 31 March 2020, the HSE has further strengthened its national and regional governance structures to support the response of nursing homes to COVID-19. The HSE has established 23 COVID-19 response teams at CHO level, which are providing nursing homes with medical, nursing, staffing and other supports. The teams are composed of consultant geriatricians, clinicians, infection prevention control experts and senior nurses.

Finally, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, on 23 May 2020, a COVID-19 Expert Panel on Nursing Homes has been established. The purpose of the Panel is to examine the national and international responses to COVID-19 and provide immediate real-time learnings and recommendations in light of the expected ongoing impact of COVID-19 over the next 12-18 months. On 13 July I published the Panel’s interim report. I expect to receive the Panel's final report this month.