Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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373. To ask the Minister for Health the number of NFO1 forms that were submitted late by a nursing home in April 2020; if this amounted to 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41027/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Chief Inspector of Social Services within the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory independent regulator for the nursing home sector. I am advised by HIQA that during April 2020, while many private and statutory nursing homes were managing COVID-19 outbreaks, multiple nursing homes did not return NF01 within the 72 hour timeframe, however, the system does not capture when notifications are submitted outside of the 72 hour timeframe. HIQA has advised that this was expected and understandable, as the providers primary focus was on outbreak management and providing care. When there are delays of NF01s, the Chief Inspector works with services on a case by case basis.