Care homes accused of drafting in extra staff before inspections

The health watchdog has been deliberately misled about the conditions in care homes, according to whistleblower complaints reported today.

The Irish Independent is reporting that HIQA inspectors were intentionally given misleading impressions about standards of care in the facilities at least 15 times in the last year.

Several staff at the care homes have made the claim, the most common allegation being that extra staff were drafted in when an inspection was expected.

It comes after undercover footage at the Aras Attracta care home in Mayo showed residents being kicked, force-fed, slapped and verbally abused.