Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health has engaged with numerous representations from residents’ families and their representatives, and from local councillors and TD’s. I understand fully the upset and anxiety this has caused for the affected families. The HSE has assured me that they are doing everything possible to alleviate the distress this decision has caused.

As Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I take the health and safety of residents in long-term residential care facilities very seriously. I will not ignore a directive from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) stating that there is a fire and safety risk in any facility that potentially jeopardises the welfare and wellbeing of nursing home residents and the staff who work there.

HIQA is the statutory independent regulator for this sector and this responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising of Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and Quality Standards.

In discharging its duties, HIQA determines through examination of all information available to it, including site inspections, whether a nursing home meets the regulations in order to achieve and maintain its registration status.

I am fully supportive of HIQA and their capacity to visit any long-term residential care facility to ensure that the best practices are being implemented and the best supports are being provided to older people. It is important that we have the processes in place to ensure that standards are maintained. I have previously stated, and I wish to reiterate here, that while I am Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People there will be no diminution of HIQA’s role vis-à-vis standards and regulations.

The Department of Health has maintained open and transparent lines of communication with the families of the residents, and with the HSE, at all times throughout the process of managing the issues at Cherry Orchard Hospital and accommodating residents elsewhere on a temporary basis.

It is my understanding that the HSE has met with the families several times since the safety issues at Willow and Sycamore units were first identified and explained in full detail the nature of the problems and the rationale for the decision to temporarily transfer residents to alternative facilities to accommodate completion of the remedial works.

While the Department and I have been kept fully informed and updated by the HSE at all times, the HSE are closer to the situation at Cherry Orchard and are in the best position to provide an accurate, immediate, informed evaluation of these matters.

You should also note that I am precluded, as are all Ministers, by the provisions of Section 10B of the Health Act 2004 (as inserted by Section 6 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013) from directing the Health Service Executive (HSE) as regards any function of the HSE relating to the provision of treatment or of a health or personal social service to any particular person, or as regards any decision whether or not a particular person is eligible for a particular health or personal social service or the extent to which and the manner in which a person is eligible for such a service.

Under the Health Act 2004, the day-to-day operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health services remains a matter for the HSE.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I take the health and safety of residents in long-term residential care facilities very seriously. I will not ignore a directive from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) stating that there is a fire and safety risk in any facility that potentially jeopardises the welfare and wellbeing of nursing home residents.

In consultation with HIQA, the HSE has considered several plans to address the works required that would have allowed residents to remain on-site during completion of these remedial works.

After due consideration, the most expedient option is to close both Units and relocate the residents to Clondalkin Lodge, which is a private nursing home, on a temporary basis while the necessary structural works are completed. It is expected that the works will take a minimum of 12 months to complete.

If families and other representatives have concerns that residents with limitations on their capacity were not provided with sufficient support to make their will and preference known, this should be raised with the HSE directly.

As the question raised is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.