Does HIQA have sufficient powers?
A number of important facts emerged from the Oireachtas Health Committee today.
Firstly, HIQA said it has no power to fine a nursing home and that cancellation of a home's registration is the "nuclear option".
It also said it lacks the authority to go after a parent company, which may own a group of companies, that in turn own a number of nursing homes.
HIQA said that recent updates to its regulatory powers, "when fully implemented", will provide powers to investigate specific individual complaints, will mean extra enforcement powers and shorten the timeframe for escalatory actions.
Time will tell and these improvements cannot come fast enough to reassure families and residents.
We learned today that there are 95 nursing homes under additional restrictive conditions. This is a dynamic situation where restrictions can be imposed and taken away.
Many of the homes are run by the HSE, or small stand-alone private homes and not large corporate entities.
The big question was why it took RTÉ Current Affairs, rather than HIQA, to uncover the issues at Benevain Manor in Glasnevin and The Residence in Portlaoise.
A full HIQA report on the two homes is due to be sent to the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Older People at the end of the week.
The Interim Report found that Beneavin Manor had reported almost 200 incidents related to alleged suspected or confirmed abuse of patients.
And The Residence had reported 40 such allegations.
HIQA said today around 14% of notifications from Beneavin were moderate risk and that each one was explored.
"We don't wait for a television programme for that. We review it," HIQA told the committee.
HIQA has sought assurances regarding the other 23 homes than Emeis own.
It has also referred matters to An Garda Síochána.
HIQA told the committee that 85% of all inspections are unannounced and that in Emeis centres, 91% of inspections were unannounced.
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