A third nursing home in the Aperee group is to shut

The 68-bed Aperee Living nursing home in Belgooly, Co Cork, which is to close shortly. Now a further two homes, in Waterford and Kilkenny, are set to shut. Picture: David Creedon

A third nursing home in the Aperee Living Group has seen its registration cancelled by health regulator Hiqa following critical inspections.

Aperee Living Callan in Kilkenny has been taken over by the HSE after Hiqa directed them to do so.

Inspectors found that residents’ money was used for running the centre, and highlighted chronic staff shortages and fire safety risks.

The nursing home had just one director, which is also the case for nine other nursing homes in Aperee Living Group.

Inspectors acknowledged that “residents’ health, social care and spiritual needs were well catered for”.

A Hiqa spokeswoman said yesterday: “The chief inspector made a decision to cancel the registration of Aperee Living Callan arising from serious concerns about the governance and management of the centre.”

The provider did not appeal.

Registration was previously cancelled for Aperee Living Belgooly, and the provider has not appealed.

Senator Tim Lombard has been assisting these residents to find alternative accommodation and said the building is now “lying idle”.

Three registrations have been cancelled, including Aperee Living Ballygunner in Co Waterford, which indicates wider issues for Aperee Living Group, he said: 

I believe all these nursing homes could be taken over in a matter of time. Is it now appropriate that the HSE sit down and just take them all over instead?

The closures also raise fears around capacity in the nursing home sector, he warned. He understands the 47-bed nursing home in Callan is “half-full”, saying: “The HSE has stepped in, and there is a bit of relief in the community.”

A spokeswoman for Aperee Living Group confirmed they were notified by Hiqa of the decision in Kilkenny.

“Aperee Living Group is working closely with the HSE/SECH [South East Community Healthcare] and will continue to do so,” she said.

The spokeswoman said management is working with staff, families and Nursing Homes Ireland so “disruption to the lives of residents is kept to a minimum”.