HSE refuses to reveal problem nursing homes

HEALTH chiefs yesterday continued to remain tight-lipped about decisions to suspend admissions to seven nursing homes in and around Dublin.

Admissions are being suspended in some of the homes, it has emerged, after concerns about numbers and high dependent residents. Health chiefs refused to identify the homes despite public pressure by Age Action and TDs. The seven facilities are based in the north Dublin and Wicklow areas and the names of two only emerged last night.

Health chiefs last week admitted several facilities had admissions capped until “improvements” were made. However, the Health Service Executive (HSE) only yesterday, six days later, admitted the numbers now being told to turn away prospective residents.

An informed source told the Irish Examiner that in some of the seven homes, no more patients with Alzheimer’s disease were being admitted.

One of those whose admissions are frozen is the Bedford House Nursing Home in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. It’s owner failed to return a call. Another home, St Doolagh’s Park on Malahide Road, said its suspension would be lifted in January. A statement added: “On October 25, the HSE made the decision to suspend HSE-secured admissions to St Doolagh’s. This was in response to a HSE inspection report in July, which found that St Doolagh’s needed to bring its documentation and procedures — as well as the training of its staff in the implementation of documentation and procedures — into line with best practices.”

In the meantime, the home would continue to provide “the highest level” of care.

Health Minister Mary Harney was yesterday reassured by the HSE that current residents in the seven private nursing homes were not at risk. The minister’s spokesman said risk assessments were carried out.

Age Action, however, demanded health chiefs come clean and name the homes.

“The HSE must also explain the grounds for its assertion that existing residents of these homes are safe,” said its head of advocacy Eamonn Timmins.

In a statement, the HSE said it was responsible for the inspection of 440 private nursing homes in the country. It had suspended admissions into five homes with similar notifications due to issue to two further homes.

“This is in line with recent public assurances by the HSE that, where concerns are raised by inspectors about a private nursing home, no beds will then be contracted until these issues are rectified. Furthermore, a home will also be advised not to take in privately referred admissions during this period.”

*Relatives with concerns were asked to contact a HSE helpline on 1850 24 1850.