Health chiefs accused of secrecy over plans for coping with ageing population
Nursing Homes Ireland chief executive Tadhg Daly called for the publication in full of a report into the physical condition of many of the country’s aging State-run nursing homes, alarming details of which were leaked last month.
“I believe it is imperative that there is a measure of transparency with regard to State-run homes and the public are made fully aware of the serious issues that they are facing,” he said. “This will enable an open debate that will focus upon our requirement to meet the long-term residential care of our ageing population.”
Mr Daly was speaking as his organisation published an information booklet aimed at reassuring older people considering a move to nursing home accommodation about the facilities, lifestyle and choices they would have.
“As Ireland’s old age population grows rapidly, it is vital that the correct infrastructure is in place,” said Mr Daly. “NHI members employ 22,000 people and have spent €2bn upgrading their nursing homes in recent years.”
The leaked report raised serious concerns about the ability of the vast majority of State-run nursing homes to meet accommodation standards due to come into effect in the next 18 months without massive, and currently unavailable, investment.
The Department of Health said yesterday it was working with the HSE on a plan to address those issues and meet the demand for public nursing home accommodation.
“The plan will reflect both national and regional requirements,” it said.
It added that the plan would have regard to the current severe financial constraints, restrictions on public sector staffing and recruitment, and the on-going need to meet service and safety standards, all of which posed challenges for community nursing units across the country.
It said the original report and follow-up action plan would be published when consideration of all the issues involved had been competed.
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