Nursing homes warn of closures

NURSING home owner representatives yesterday pledged to make long-stay care an election issue on the doorsteps.

The Government was warned that increased pressure on owners over revised standards would see 6,000 nursing home beds lost over the next year. The Irish Nursing Homes Organisation (INHO) made the stark warning as it launched a manifesto outlining radical changes needed in the sector.

“With new environmental standards, they (the Government) want 80% of rooms as single with en-suite,” said INHO chief executive Tadhg Daly.