Call to include private nursing homes in national emergency planning 

A number of nursing homes were affected by the recent fuel protests, which resulted in fuel shortages and difficulties for some staff travelling to and from work. File picture

Ireland’s private nursing home network needs to be “plugged into” future national emergency planning, according to Nursing Homes Ireland chief executive Tadhg Daly.

Mr Daly said as the fuel crisis continues, it is vital the Government ensures the inclusion of all public, private, and voluntary nursing homes in emergency planning.

He said he first asked the Government in 2018 for details of national protocols governing how emergencies that could impact nursing home care were handled, but had yet to receive a detailed response.

A number of nursing homes were affected by the recent fuel protests, which resulted in fuel shortages and difficulties for some staff travelling to and from work.

Mr Daly said there should be an automatic plan that “kicks in” during national emergency situations, such as covid‑19, severe weather events and, more recently, the fuel protests.

“I would be concerned about the absence of a national emergency plan that would include all stakeholders effectively,” he said.

“I was a bit surprised there did not appear to be more of a plan in place.

Whatever crisis comes our way, the nursing sector should be plugged into how it is handled.

“Sometimes there is an over-reliance, or an over-focus, on the public health system but if you don't have a functioning nursing home service, it's going to have a huge knock‑on effect on the wider health service.

“We would be frustrated at the lack of constructive engagement and forward planning around some of those issues, which need an all‑of‑Government response.” 

Mr Daly said Kieran O'Donnell, the junior minister with responsibility for older people, contacted him during the fuel crisis.

“He asked what was going on and if there were any issues the Government needed to be aware of,” Mr Daly said.

“So, to be fair, it is not as if nobody was talking to us.

“But the point we make is that there should be an automatic system that should kick in for all sectors most likely to be impacted by something like a fuel crisis.

“After all, it is not as if nursing home staff can just work from home.

“They are doing their jobs 24/7 and need to know that they will be able to get in and out of the homes where they work.”