Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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621. To ask the Minister for Health the number of complaints made to HIQA in respect of nursing homes in each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of adverse findings made in each of those years; and the counties in which there were the highest per capita incidence of complaints made. [53300/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Chief Inspector of Social Care and the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) is the national independent regulator of designed centres for older people including public community nursing units and private nursing homes.

Department of Health officials directed this query to HIQA who have advised the following:

"HIQA was established under the Health Act 2007, as amended, to promote safety and quality in the provision of health and personal social services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the public. HIQA’s regulatory role is to regulate designated centres for older people, people with a disability and special care units. HIQA also regulates medical ionising radiation exposure and monitors standards in acute and community hospitals and private hospitals, some children’s social care services and permanent international protection accommodation services (IPAS) centres.

In addition, HIQA has no statutory remit to manage or respond to individual complaints, this is the statutory responsibility of the service provider. However, while we are unable to investigate or resolve individual complaints, we do welcome feedback about centres and services under our remit. We call this ‘unsolicited information’.

All unsolicited information (UROI) received is acknowledged, logged and examined by HIQA. If the information relates to a service within HIQA’s remit, it is reviewed by an inspector to establish if the information received indicates a risk to the safety, effectiveness, and management of the service, and the day-to-day care the resident or patient receives. Unsolicited information received can help inform HIQA’s work to:

- ensure services continue to meet high standards of care for patients and residents

- consider how well providers handle complaints and use them as opportunities to improve care for patients and residents

- identify any trends or patterns that could indicate that something unacceptable is happening in a service

- make decisions when registering and or renewing the registration of designated centres.

If HIQA considers that the service provider may not be compliant with the regulations and or national standards, we can respond by:

- asking the service provider to submit additional information on the issue

- requesting a plan from the service provider outlining how the issue will be investigated and addressed

- using the information on inspection

- carrying out an unannounced inspection to assess the quality and safety of the care being provided in the service.

In addition, where the information indicates that people may be at immediate risk, HIQA will use its full legal powers and report the incident, where appropriate, to An Garda Síochána, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) or the Health Service Executive (HSE’s) Adult Safeguarding Team."

Total number or UROIs per year about designated centres for older people

Number of UROIs per county per year about designated centres for older people