Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Four Nursing Home Expert Panel Implementation Progress Reports have been published since the Covid-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel published its report in August 2020. In addition, an implementation progress update was published in October 2023, which outlines how 54 of the 86 recommendations are now complete.

The fourth progress report (June 2022) and the progress implementation update highlight the important progress that had already taken place and that many of the short- and medium-term recommendations which were aimed at safeguarding people living in nursing homes against the COVID-19 virus had already been implemented and mainstreamed into normal operations. All reports can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/c7f5b-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-report-implementation-oversight-team/#progress-reports/.

The October progress update also details progress made in implementing the more medium to long term reform recommendations in the Expert Panel report. Key areas of progress include:

• The Patient Advocacy Services was extended to private nursing homes from 1st November 2022.
• Revised Regulations were signed in December 2022 to enhance and streamline complaints processes. These came into effect on the 1st March 2023.
• The results of the first Nursing Homes Care Experience survey were published in November 2022.
• Work is progressing on the development of a Safe Staffing & Skill mix Framework for the sector.
• A Palliative and end-of-life programme for nursing homes which was launched in 2022, continues to deliver education and training to staff.
• Dedicated IPC and Safeguarding Specialist teams for nursing homes have been established across all 9 CHOs.
• Over 320 places funded postgraduate gerontological nursing training courses for registered nurses working in nursing homes.
• The Patient Safety Bill has been signed into law in May 2023 providing the Chief Inspector in HIQA with investigation powers for serious incidents in nursing homes.
• The Independent Commission on Care for Older Persons was established in January 2024, to examine the provision of health and social care services and support for older people and make recommendations to the government for their strategic development.
• The government approved the drafting of a Health (Amendment) Bill in October 2022 and Pre-Legislative Scrutiny was completed in December 2022. It is expected that the Bill will be published this legislative session. This bill sets out a range of proposed amendments to the Health Act 2007 to provide enhanced powers to the Chief Inspector of Social Services in HIQA across two thematic areas:
  • (1) a broader suite of enforcement tools available to the Chief Inspector of Social Services and
  • (2) the collection, sharing and publication of key data on nursing homes to support service planning and policy development.

While it is accepted that this broad programme of wide-ranging and complex reform will take time to implement, significant progress has already been made and the Government is committed to implementing the Expert Panel recommendations.