Labour raises motion on nursing home reform
Marie Sherlock said the party "want a fundamental reform of the fair deal pricing scheme".
"To be frank, how that scheme is structured and the loose controls around it is driving some of the appalling practices that is currently going on in our nursing homes and in the care of the elderly in this country," she said.
She added that legislation is "critically" needed to ensure there are safe staffing levels and protections for staff in nursing homes.
Ms Sherlock said Labour believes big businesses should play "no role" in the running of nursing homes and that profit should not be prioritised over resident safety and care.
"48% of the beds are in the hands of just 15 operators," she said.
She said: "Seven of whom are Irish, four are French, the rest are German, Spanish, Dutch and Chinese.
"They are not here for the good of their health. They're here because they see a serious investment and opportunity."
Ms Sherlock said some these nursing homes have become "warehouses".
Since the RTÉ Investigates programme on nursing homes was broadcast, Ms Sherlock said everything about the Government's response "screams of painfully slow caution".
"The kid gloves have to come off," she said, adding "we owe it to the older people in this country".
She asked the minister what he is going to do with "all the information" at his disposal, "all the information about the protected disclosures that have been sitting there for two years" and "all the information HIQA effectively failed in their duties".
She said protected disclosures were made two years ago about nursing homes that were not covered in the RTÉ Investigates programme - about "residents being made to sit on commodes unattended for significant periods of time".
The Labour spokesperson said there was a precedent that the HSE went in to directly manage and operate nursing homes during the pandemic.
"It was possible then," she said, adding "it should be possible now".
'Deeply concerned'
Minister of State with responsibility for older people Kieran O'Donnell moved the Government's counter-motion to Labour's motion, which Ms Sherlock called "disgraceful" and "completely devoid of any sense of urgency".
"It is complicit in endorsing a model of care run by big business in Ireland," Ms Sherlock said.
Mr O'Donnell acknowledged the RTÉ Investigates programme that aired on 4 June as a "hard-hitting, harrowing programme".
The programme, he said, "highlighted a litany of poor care standards in two nursing homes, showing clear neglect and the abuse of older people".
He said he was "shocked and deeply concerned" by the "distressing" footage, adding that every nursing home resident should expect a high standard of care at all times.
"Poor care, mistreatment, neglect or any form of abuse of any person living in long-term residential care centres is completely unacceptable," he said.
The Fine Gael TD said he welcomes that referrals have been made to An Garda Síochána.
"Responsibility for the safety and care of residents rests with the individual providers of each nursing home and their staff," he said.
Mr O'Donnell said staff must be equipped with the tools and supports they need.
He said he expected HIQA and the Office of the Chief Executive to utilise "all available powers to them to ensure rigorous oversight and accountability in nursing home care".
He said the Department of Health met with HIQA on 4 June and that on 13 June, HIQA gave him a report on their engagement on the two nursing homes featured in the documentary, which was then published on 17 June.
"This report details HIQA's inspection of these two nursing homes since the programme was broadcast and their ongoing work in this regard," he said.
HIQA, he said, has conducted a series of unannounced inspections of nursing homes in the evening, in the early hours of the morning and during the day to "ascertain the level of care being provided at all time - day and night".
He said both providers featured in the programme were issued with an official warning should they fail to bring "significant improvements to the care of residents".
He said he received a further report on 20 June from HIQA with an overview of the Emeis group and that this report was published yesterday".
He added the need for "additional regulatory powers in respect of nursing homes" is an "absolute priority" for the Government.
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