Latest news with #Hiqa
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'Trust is broken': Committee hears of calamity and failures by CHI over children's surgery controversy
Calamity, failures in care, broken trust, and stonewalling of parents were raised during an emotional Oireachtas Health Committee with Children's Health Ireland (CHI) which left many questions unanswered. The discussion focused on unnecessary hip surgeries at Temple Street and Cappagh hospitals, unapproved springs in spinal surgery, a toxic work culture, and delays in care identified in an unpublished report from 2021. Only 72 out of about 1,800 children affected by the hip surgery controversy have so far been seen, CHI clinical director Ike Okefor confirmed. He expects it will meet the six-month deadline. He apologised for how the opening review clinics were run, with one case involving a five-and-a-half-hour appointment. Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane asked specific questions about care in oncology and urology in light of the unpublished 2021 report. He asked if parents of children referred to in that document as 'Crumlin orphans' were told about the alleged sup-optimal care outlined. Parents feel, he said, 'stonewalled, they feel they are meeting with a wall of resistance, they say they are being failed". When he was told information was not given to them, he said it is a "failure". CHI CEO Lucy Nugent said its legal advice remains not to publish the report. A HSE official – Kate Killeen White, regional executive officer for Dublin Midlands – said she referred concerns in that report about use of public money to gardaí. She said CHI had not considered the problems had met the threshold for garda involvement. Senator Tom Clonan and others asked about potential risks of infertility for children waiting too long for treatment of undescended testes, as described in that unpublished report. CHI was unable to say how many were affected. Ms Nugent said it sought advice on the potential impacts. 'They did not meet the threshold for open disclosure,' she said. Senator Maria Byrne raised the issue of national oversight for hip dysplasia care, asking why a Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) review into this last year had not led to a national universal screening programme. HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said Hiqa advised a more targeted screening programme, but said the HSE is 'trying to finalise a proposal' for universal screening. There is selected screening at 16 centres, he said, adding the HSE 'will certainly be making the case' for expansion to the National Screening Advisory Committee. Questions were asked about oversight of devices in light of Hiqa's report in April on use of unapproved springs in surgeries. Former CEO Eilish Hardiman was asked to comment in light of her continuing key role in the moves to the new hospital. 'Part of the accountability is being here today and answering the questions to the best of my ability,' she said. 'I accept that there were weaknesses, and I've apologised for those particular weaknesses, we have put in structures and processes to try and address them.' These changes include improvements in procurement. Committee chair Padraig Rice said he was not satisfied in general and particularly on the non-publishing of reports. He asked CHI to share their legal advice on the 2021 report. 'Trust is broken,' he said. Ms Nugent and Ms Hardiman apologised to families repeatedly during heated discussions, with the new CEO pledging a new culture will take them into the national children's hospital.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: Sweeping reforms of nursing-home care must be prioritised
However, when those being let down so badly are some of the most vulnerable people in our country, this is unacceptable. When confronted over the 'scandalous' treatment of older people in privately run nursing homes, as revealed by RTÉ, Taoiseach Micheál Martin replied that he had 'no issue' with bigger fines being imposed. The question mark left hanging in the air was: Why are greater fines for abuses not already in place? Mr Martin must surely recognise that when you are charged with running a country and are confronted by serious failures, it is you who has responsibility to not only prevent such breaches, but to ensure they do not happen again. Faith in the level of state concern for the welfare and protection of older people has been undermined. If it is to be repaired, we need to see tougher measures to guarantee standards of care are being taken seriously and will be rigorously upheld. Where there ought to have been zero tolerance, we have instead seen too many betrayals of trust when it comes to maintaining safeguards for older people in care. As pointed out by Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cullinane, 75pc of Ireland's nursing homes are privately run. He was correct to say that 'older people are being failed'. Old age is not a disease – it is strength and survivorship It will also trouble many to learn that Hiqa – the regulator for nursing homes – does not have the 'far-reaching powers' it needs to deal with the private firms that run them. Its chief, Angela Fitzgerald, told the Oireachtas Committee on Health that the watchdog can only direct individual providers to do something and that it does not have 'powers' to direct companies. Also addressing the committee, junior minister Kieran O'Donnell said he too had 'concerns' about the increasing privatisation of the nursing-home sector. He said it was his hope that further safeguards would be brought forward 'as a matter of urgency'. One has to wonder why, two decades after the appalling revelations concerning abuses of the elderly at Leas Cross, there could be any lack of enforcement measures to make all those involved in nursing-home care accountable for mistreatment of any kind. Given that the entire landscape has been transformed with the predominance of private-care concerns, it is extraordinary that stringent enforcement controls were not also put in place. Sweeping reform of regulations and standards must be prioritised if trust is to be restored. American activist Maggie Kuhn, who founded the Gray Panthers movement to campaign for older people, said: 'Old age is not a disease – it is strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trials and illnesses.' After a lifetime's service, older people surely should not have to battle their own State for their basic rights.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
‘Nuclear option' to close nursing homes must be used, says Taoiseach
The 'nuclear option' to close nursing homes for significant failings 'has to be on the table', Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said, describing it as a 'fundamental power' of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), the monitoring body. Mr Martin told the Dáil it was up to the Health Service Executive 'to resolve the consequential crisis that occurs when a decision to close is made. 'But we shouldn't baulk from that decision because of that.' He was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who highlighted what they said was a lack of power at Hiqa. READ MORE Wednesday's debate followed the publication of Hiqa's interim report on the Emeis Ireland nursing homes – Beneavin Manor in Dublin and The Residence in Portlaoise on Tuesday night. Both featured in the recent RTÉ Investigates programme. Mr Martin said there were some 'very disturbing clear facts' in the report, citing the non-adherence to fire regulations. 'Now, to me, that's a red alarm,' he said, adding that when fundamental issues like the health and safety of residents are at stake, then closure is an option. [ Taoiseach Micheál Martin's Cork office vandalised amid 'personal threats' Opens in new window ] Ms McDonald said it was clear Emeis did not fear Hiqa. 'Quite frankly, they didn't give a toss about regulations or inspections,' she said. 'Little wonder, because Hiqa's hands are tied behind its back. They don't have the legal power to impose fines. The corporate entities that own these nursing homes are out of their reach. And Hiqa badly needs new powers'. She asked how it took an RTÉ programme to expose a scandal when the report showed there were 198 allegations of abuse at a single nursing home. Opposition smells blood in the water over RPZ changes Listen | 35:51 The Dublin Central TD said 20 years ago, 30 per cent of nursing homes were in private hands but that had since risen to 80 per cent. During testy exchanges, Mr Martin said Hiqa's powers had been broadened since 2017 and stressed that 'if there is a series of noncompliance as seems to be the case in respect of the interim report of Hiqa', the option of closure 'should be on the table'. Ms McDonald said the culture of abuse 'was obviously endemic, hard-wired into the operation of the homes, and went on for a very long time'. Ms Bacik said trust in the model of private and for-profit nursing home care 'has been shattered' since the RTÉ programme and that 'faith in the system of inspections has also been greatly damaged', requiring Government action. [ Ireland's EuroMillions winner bought their €250 million winning ticket in Munster Opens in new window ] The presentations of Hiqa's chief executive and inspectors at Wednesday morning's Oireachtas health committee had raised more questions than answers, she argued, claiming the chief inspector had been 'frankly evasive' when asked about reports of abuse in a third nursing home. Mr Martin said the power to cancel nursing home registrations existed and that it had been used in eight cases last year. 'It can and has happened,' he said.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Hiqa asks RTÉ for all nursing home documentary footage
RTÉ has said it will not hand over non-broadcast footage to The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) without a statutory obligation or legal order. Hiqa said it has asked the national broadcaster to provide all footage it captured in the making of an RTÉ Investigates documentary into standards of care at two nursing homes. Advertisement The programme highlighted serious issues at two centres – The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin – which have been acknowledged as 'wholly unjustifiable' by Emeis Ireland. Hiqa, which is responsible for inspecting nursing homes, said it had notified gardai about its concerns arising from the programme. The authority's chief executive, Angela Fitzgerald, told the Health Committee on Wednesday: 'We've also asked RTÉ to give us all of the footage because they have, maybe, more information than we currently have. 'We also need to be able to see it, because we need to make sure that every resident, not just the ones that were on the screen, are safe. Advertisement 'And they have agreed to cooperate with us and hopefully they will be able to provide the information we need.' In her written submission to the same committee, Ms Fitzgerald said that RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst confirmed that the broadcaster 'will assist us in whatever way they can'. Asked about the comments, a spokeswoman for RTÉ confirmed it was engaging with Hiqa – which is due to request a meeting with the documentary team. However, she said: 'Any assistance provided by RTÉ will be referenced by our own guidelines, safeguards, protocols and procedures. Advertisement 'RTÉ does not hand non-broadcast footage to third parties without a statutory obligation or legal order.' She added: 'Hiqa have now confirmed they have referred incidents evidenced in the RTÉ programme to An Garda Síochána.'
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Hiqa requires additional powers to regulate corporate nursing home companies
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) would require additional powers to regulate parent companies of nursing homes, the Health Committee has been told. The committee also heard that more than 15 per cent of the country's nursing homes are currently under some form of restrictive condition by Hiqa. Advertisement It comes after RTÉ Investigates examined standards of care at two nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea. The programme highlighted serious issues at two centres, The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin, which have been acknowledged as 'wholly unjustifiable' by Emeis Ireland. Hiqa, which is responsible for inspecting nursing homes, said it had notified gardai about its concerns arising from the programme. It also issued an official warning of cancellation of registration to the providers of the two nursing homes should they fail to implement significant improvements in the centres. Advertisement Hiqa chief executive Angela Fitzgerald told the Health Committee on Wednesday that the behaviour in the programme constituted a breach of 'basic human rights which can never be condoned'. She said the inspection agency was 'really sorry to the families directly impacted and the wider community'. A general view of Beneavin Manor nursing home in Dublin, Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) An interim report on Tuesday evening revealed that there had been 198 allegations of abuse to a resident at Beneavin Manor from January 1st, 2022 to June 5th, 2025, with 40 such allegations at The Residence Portlaoise between December 14th, 2023 and June 6th, 2025. Hiqa said it had also sought immediate assurances on the other 23 homes that Emeis Ireland owns, adding that it is clear it has significant work to do. Advertisement At committee, Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said what was shown in the programme was 'cost-cutting by a corporate body leading to neglect of residents' and 'substandard' care. Asked if Hiqa had any powers to provide financial penalties against that corporate entity, Ms Fitzgerald said the authority that was not provided for under its legal framework. Ms Fitzgerald said the authority has power to regulate individual providers but said it does not 'currently have any powers' in terms of requiring large corporate entities overseeing several providers to take action. She said it was 'important that we have additional powers' for circumstances where it needs to act with such corporate entities. Advertisement She told the committee that there had been a shift towards large corporate entities in the nursing home space and said: 'We don't currently have powers to direct or require them to do anything – we work on the basis of cooperation.' Ms Fitzgerald added: 'I do want to put on record today that the vast majority of those corporate entities as well as individual providers cooperate and work with us – but regulation is there to provide both action and a deterrent. 'And I think it is important that when there's a changing landscape, that we pause and look at whether we need additional regulatory powers to deal with circumstances such as this.' Responding to a follow-up question from committee chairman and Social Democrat TD Padraig Rice, Deputy Chief Inspector Susan Cliffe said the approach taken by the authority begins with engaging with the provider and escalating through a process that includes advisories, cautions, and additional restrictive conditions on its operations. Advertisement She added that it ends with cancellation of service or forced closure as a 'nuclear option'. Pressed on what additional measure could be taken against companies following cancellation that would prevent them from opening a different nursing home, Ms Cliffe said: 'I think we have the powers at the moment to regulate each individual nursing home, vis a vis the company that runs that nursing home. 'What we're talking about at a higher level is, if you would have the powers to go above that to the company that owns all of these companies, that's what doesn't currently exist.' Ms Cliffe said the minister has discussed that potential with the authority. Hiqa also told the committee that 95 of the country's 548 nursing homes are under 'additional restrictive conditions', 53 of which are HSE operated or funded. The RTÉ Investigates documentary highlighted vulnerable people being left unsupervised, large amounts of residents congregated together being supervised by one member of staff, and requests for the use of toilets being unanswered for lengthy periods of time. It also showed some staff not using proper hoisting equipment and shortages in necessary items like incontinence pads. Mr Rice, the chairman of the committee, said the programme was 'very difficult and disturbing viewing'. Emeis Ireland issued an apology to to all residents and their families for 'the suffering and distress experienced as a result of failures identified in the care provided'. It said it recognised and deeply regrets the 'breach of trust' and 'any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times'. Emeis Ireland said it has commenced a comprehensive review across both nursing homes.
