Department of Health defends response to Covid-19 outbreaks in nursing homes

It comes in response to criticism from Nursing Homes Ireland, which said the Government has yet to implement key reforms outlined in a review of nursing homes a year ago

The provision of free PPE was one of the measures introduced by the Department of Health. File picture

The Department of Health has strongly defended its response to Covid-19 in nursing homes, claiming the primary responsibility for safe care rests with providers.

It comes after Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) hit out at the Government, stating that key structural reforms to ensure lessons are learned from Covid-19 had not been advanced.