Taoiseach: 'Horrific, shocking' nursing home revelations demand review of HIQA framework
The Health Information and Quality Authority's regulations will have to be examined after 'shocking' care failings in nursing homes, the Taoiseach has said.
Micheál Martin said yesterday that the nursing homes regulator failed to detect what he described as 'horrific, shocking and unacceptable' treatment of elderly patients captured in an RTÉ programme.
RTÉ Investigates' Inside Nursing Homes aired this week showing vulnerable elderly people being left unsupervised for long periods, shortages in key items such as incontinence pads, and requests to use the toilet being unanswered for lengthy periods. The Health Information and Quality Authority's regulations will have to be examined after 'shocking' care failings in nursing homes, the Taoiseach has said. Pic: Getty Images
Despite repeated complaints, there were delays in Hiqa inspections taking place at the homes run by the country's largest private nursing home provider Emeis, which owns the two nursing homes that featured in the programme, The Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin.
Yesterday, Emeis Ireland apologised to the residents of Beneavin Manor and The Residence Portlaoise and their families. The company expressed regret for 'the pain and distress imposed on them, due to clearly identified failures in care,' and said it is cooperating with Hiqa and the HSE.
RTÉ revealed that Hiqa had banned The Residence from admitting new patients because of poor compliance with regulations on April 22 but that several more patients were admitted after this date. Micheál Martin said yesterday that the nursing homes regulator failed to detect what he described as 'horrific, shocking and unacceptable' treatment of elderly patients captured in an RTÉ programme. Pic: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
Emeis said 'due to an administrative error on our part regarding the date to cease admissions, admissions continued for eight days until April 30, 2025 in The Residence Portlaoise'.
The company added that Hiqa and the HSE visited the two nursing homes featured and acknowledged that the content of the programme was 'shocking and unacceptable and unquestionably equated to poor and abusive practice'. In yesterday's statement, Emeis also said it would aim to improve six areas, one of which is 'addressing a culture of fear or poor reporting'.
Another area it said needed improvement was 'ensuring the immediate safety of all residents', as well as 'improving staff training and competence'. RTÉ Investigates' Inside Nursing Homes aired this week showing vulnerable elderly people being left unsupervised for long periods, shortages in key items such as incontinence pads, and requests to use the toilet being unanswered for lengthy periods. Pic: Getty Images
RTÉ reported that the Taoiseach, speaking about Hiqa failures said: 'There has to be an examination of this situation in terms of the regulatory framework that didn't catch very horrific and shocking behaviour towards elderly people in nursing homes.'
'What was uncovered by RTÉ Investigates was horrific. It was absolutely unacceptable,' he said. Hiqa confirmed it is carrying out a review of all 27 Emeis Ireland nursing homes.
Clare Doyle, a teacher training healthcare assistant, told RTÉ's Liveline that she had reported an Emeis nursing home to Hiqa two years ago after some of her students raised concerns about practices there.
'It's very difficult for me to listen to what Hiqa has said, that they're shocked by what was witnessed on Wednesday night's show, because we provided evidence of this happening two years ago,' she said, adding that it took 17 weeks to carry out an inspection at a home she reported.
Liveline also heard from a woman who removed her father from Beneavin House, on the same Glasnevin campus to the nursing home featured in the programme.
She said her father was subject to 'neglect and abuse' during his 11 months in the home before she removed him and she noticed 'red flags from the beginning'.
She said: 'My brother visited at half ten in the morning to find my dad in a wet bed, still in his pyjamas, and having not had his breakfast. He had two falls within three weeks of being there.'
She also said her father had an incontinence incident with his bowels and the room wasn't properly cleaned before his supper was brought to him, with carers claiming they couldn't do anything because no housekeeping staff were available.
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