Only one nursing home shut since inspections

JUST one private nursing home has been closed down by the Health Information and Quality Authority since inspections started a year ago, the head of its social services inspectorate said yesterday.

Dr Marion Witton, HIQA’s chief inspector, said lots of people had told her homes were closing because of the standards, which was not true.

“We have actually closed one home down, just for the record,” she pointed out.