Nursing homes want action on new standards
The Irish Nursing Homes Organisation, together with its individual members, recognise the need for, and is eager to see, an improvement in standards in nursing homes throughout the country.
We have over a long period of time sought the introduction of legislation and standards (for public and private facilities alike) which aim at delivering a consistently higher level of care and service for the elderly.
Improved quality of nursing home care, both private and public, is nothing less than the public and, in particular, nursing home residents deserve.
Indeed, the Irish Nursing Homes Organisation had been calling on the Government to raise standards in nursing homes long before the Leas Cross programme was broadcast by RTE in May last.
Unfortunately, and despite recent events, our call has been falling on deaf ears.
Last June we had a meeting with Sean Power, minister of state with responsibility for the elderly, during which he invited the INHO fully and actively to participate in the promised legislation and development of new standards for the sector. Nearly eight months later our organisation’s input has still not been sought.
The stated intention of Government was to have new legislation in place by autumn 2005.
It has now been pushed out to the middle of this year apparently, and we are alarmed at this further procrastination on a matter of such importance.
The INHO has prepared a detailed position paper on the introduction of new legislation and the development of minimum standards. We are now ready to present these to the Minister for Health.
We are recommending minimum staffing level ratios and mandatory training for staff, minimum building standards, and rewards for nursing homes through accreditation.
The establishment of a new social services inspectorate for private and public nursing homes is also welcome. However, the new inspectorate will only be as effective as new legislation that, with our input, will have the necessary definition and teeth it currently lacks.
It is vital that the Government take our recommendations on board in order to restore public confidence generally, and in particular for the 28,000 residents and their families in private and public nursing homes.
Tadhg Daly
CEO
Irish Nursing Homes Organisation
Unit 6, Block G
Centre Point Business Park
Oak Road
Dublin 2
