‘It's not acceptable', says Martin promising probe into Hiqa failures after ‘horrific & shocking' nursing home scandal
Shocking undercover footage broadcast by
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A new RTE investigation undercovers how the elderly are treated in nursing homes
Credit: RTE Press Office Issue
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin stressed that there are issues in terms of HIQA's approach to the situation
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The RTE Investigates programme uncovered a litany of care failings and neglect of vulnerable older residents at The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, north
Both are run by Ireland's top private nursing home provider Emeis Ireland, who have apologised for the failings.
Reacting to the disturbing footage, the
Speaking in
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'We think of the
He also stressed that there are issues in terms of HIQA's approach to the situation - especially as one of the nursing homes at the centre of the RTE
He said: 'I think they will be examining that aspect of it in terms of the manners and methodology used to inspect, even though these are unannounced inspections, when they happen.
'I think we have to stand back and take a look at how in one case anyway the inspections did reveal a lack of compliance, in another, not so, and that needs to be examined as to how that came about and are there better ways of getting in under this to make sure that this does not happen again.
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'There will have to be increased vigilance from the regulatory approach and that is something that government will be looking at'.
Amid the fallout from the explosive RTE show, the Health Information and Quality Authority confirmed this week that it had moved to halt admissions to The Residence
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The inspection body also revealed that a
Minister Kieran O'Donnell held talks with HIQA to discuss issues raised in the RTE Investigates
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And he said he now expects HIQA and the Chief Inspector to use all their available powers to improve the situation.
Quizzed on the shocking doc footage,
He said: "There is a very clear focus. There is a multi-stranded approach to aging in this country.
"We are aging. We are one of the more younger populations in
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PRIORITY TO RESIDENTS
"So for example we have doubled expenditure on home care to well over €800 million.
"We do have private nursing homes and we have public nursing homes and public institutions which tend to deal with more acute patients.
"I spoke with the Minister O'Donnell, who was very much on this, and
He added: "Our priority at this stage is those living in the nursing homes.'
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Shocking undercover footage showed residents crying for help, left in soiled clothes and being incorrectly handled
Credit: RTE Press Office Issue
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