HSE takeover of Kerry nursing home 'a last resort'

Covid-19 concerns led to court order for HSE manager and senior nursing staff to be installed at Oaklands

A HSE manager and senior nursing staff were put into Oaklands Nursing Home, Listowel, at 5pm on Thursday, following a court order handed down under the Health Act on foot of an application by the Health Information and Quality Authority.

Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare has said it is rare and “a last resort” for the HSE to step in to take over the entire running of a private nursing home.

The health body's chief officer Michael Fitzgerald was seeking to reassure residents of Oaklands Nursing Home, Listowel, and their relatives that safety and wellbeing of residents is a priority after the HSE took over the running of the facility.

A HSE manager and senior nursing staff from the HSE were put into the centre at 5pm on Thursday, following a court order handed down under the Health Act on foot of an application by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).

Elderly residents with positive Covid-19 tests had been found mingling with other vulnerable residents.

The nursing home was described as a "centre in chaos" where there was a "serious risk to life", at a hearing in Listowel District Court.

There had already been "a high level of concern" and this year there had been seven inspections. A maximum of two annual inspections by Hiqa was the norm.

Mr Fitzgerald told Radio Kerry that, over the past 12 years, there have been only six or seven such takeovers, and going to court seeking the HSE to step in as the registered provider of a private nursing home was “a last resort”.

He said the HSE provided a high level of support to Oaklands in recent weeks as it faced a significant outbreak of Covid-19. Mr Fitzgerald said the concern for residents was such that the HSE was also required to step in to provide the clinical governance for a period.

Last Monday, the HSE handed the clinical governance for Oaklands back to its owners as they had stabilised the situation relating to Covid-19.

However, Hiqa, the regulator for nursing homes, was still not satisfied with a range of issues, said Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare in a statement, and the court order was sought.

The priority will be the residents at Oaklands and making sure they get the best possible care.

“We understand that this is a worrying time for residents, their loved ones, and for staff, and we will do everything possible to reassure them and keep them updated," said Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare.

"While our involvement in the operation of Oaklands will be on an interim and temporary basis, we want to reassure the community that the welfare of residents is our primary concern. We will work to provide stability and continuity for them, and will act in their best interests at all times.”

HSE chief executive Paul Reid said his organisation has been working very closely with Nursing Homes Ireland, with up to 10 nursing homes at present on a red “high alert” status.

He told RTÉ radio that high-level supports, including clinical supports, are in place.

Serial testing that alerts the HSE which nursing homes are at risk had greatly helped the sector, said Mr Reid, with 100 nursing homes, out of a total of more than 2,000, under watch.