Home standards ‘totally inadequate’

NURSING home care standards are totally inadequate, too vague and open to interpretation, the Irish Nursing Homes Organisation (INHO) has argued.

"Unfortunately, there are some irresponsible nursing home operators in this country, but there are no proper sanctions to tackle them," INHO chairperson Paul Costello said.

Current standards of care were policed by public health nurses and environmental health officers, but they were officers of the State the main purchaser of nursing home care.