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Irish Times
01-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Referrals made to gardaí after RTÉ documentary uncovered ‘appalling' treatment of residents at nursing homes
A number of referrals have been made to An Garda Síochána following revelations in an RTÉ Investigates documentary that highlighted alleged staff shortages and unsafe practices in two nursing homes, according to a new report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa). On June 4th, RTÉ Investigates broadcast a programme that featured the care of residents in two nursing homes run by Emeis Ireland, the country's largest provider of private nursing homes – The Residence Portlaoise and Firstcare Beneavin Manor. Since the programme was broadcast, Hiqa, the regulator, has carried out a number of inspections at the two nursing homes in question. Management and staffing levels at both nursing homes have increased in recent weeks and senior management from Emeis 'have been engaged on site in both locations to provide ongoing oversight and direction to both centres', the report notes. READ MORE 'External, independent consultants have been retained by Emeis to undertake a root cause analysis of what occurred in both centres, to inform further ongoing actions to be taken by the provider,' the report adds. In some cases, staff disciplinary action has been initiated and 'where appropriate, referrals had been made to An Garda Síochána'. Following the programme's airing, Minister of State for Older People Kieran O'Donnell asked Hiqa to compile a report on the 25 centres run by Emeis Ireland group. Inspectors have since commenced a programme of inspection. In its report, Hiqa noted that the resident care depicted in the RTÉ programme 'was wholly unacceptable and an offence to the human rights and dignity of those residents'. 'Hiqa is appalled by the way that residents were treated, and such treatment goes against the core values of Hiqa and its staff,' the report says. 'Residents have the right to expect to receive care of the highest quality at all times and providers of nursing homes are required under the regulations to ensure they have systems in place to ensure that they do. Responsibility for the safety and care of residents rests with the individual provider of each nursing home and their staff.' The report states that the deputy editor of RTÉ Investigates wrote to Hiqa on May 23rd informing the organisation that the broadcaster was planning to air the programme. Following this, Hiqa said its deputy chief inspector 'engaged with the providers and sought immediate assurances about the safety and welfare of the residents'. 'A series of unannounced inspections commenced ... ... [at] both nursing homes in the evening and in the early hours of the morning, as well as during the day, to ascertain the service provided at all times of day and night,' the report noted. Inspections of The Residence Portlaoise were carried out on June 5th, 8th and 12th. Inspections of Firstcare Beneavin Manor were carried out on June 5th, 9th and 12th. The report stated: 'As expected, inspectors found that the provider had taken a range of measures to address the immediate risk to residents. 'Over the three days of inspection of both Firstcare Beneavin Manor and The Residence Portlaoise, inspectors found that the issues contributing to the lack of supplies and linen had been addressed. 'While actions had been taken to improve staffing, further improvements to staffing and staff supervision were required with immediate effect.' Mr O'Donnell and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, alongside other officials from the Department of Health, met with Hiqa on Monday, June 30th, to discuss the report. A spokesperson for the department said Hiqa told the Ministers that the authority 'would continue their intensive engagement with the Emeis Ireland Group of Nursing Homes'. 'The contents and findings of both reports are being considered, including the need for additional regulatory powers in respect of nursing homes, with actions in this regard to be taken as a matter of priority,' the spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday evening. 'It is important that all aspects of the nursing home sector are scrutinised over the coming period to ensure that service delivery and configuration meet the needs of residents and their families in a sustainable and safe manner. 'The welfare of residents and their families remains the Ministers' and government's highest priority.'
BreakingNews.ie
05-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Nursing homes controversy: What we know so far
A documentary broadcast on RTÉ this week revealed serious issues at a number of nursing homes. The film examined standards of care at nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea. The French-owned company runs 27 residential homes across the State. Advertisement Undercover researchers found multiple examples of care failings and neglect of vulnerable older residents in the facilities. Here is everything we know so far about the controversy, including the growing political reaction. The background The RTÉ investigation found concerning issues at The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor nursing homes. The documentary highlighted vulnerable people being left unsupervised, large amounts of residents congregated together being supervised by one member of staff, and requests for the use of toilets being unanswered for lengthy periods of time. Advertisement It also showed some staff not using proper hoisting equipment and shortages in necessary items like incontinence pads. RTÉ had two undercover researchers simultaneously apply for and secure healthcare assistant roles at the Emeis homes. They both had all the required qualifications and were Garda vetted by RTÉ. Emeis Ireland is a French-owned nursing home group. Photo: Collins At The Residence Portlaoise, up to 101 residents can be accommodated at a weekly cost of approximately €1,200 per week under the Fair Deal scheme. The Fair Deal scheme is a State support system that helps cover the cost of nursing home care, based on a person's income and assets. The undercover researchers did witness some staff provide good care but more often saw repeated instances of staff shortages impacting daily resident care. Advertisement This included large groups of residents being congregated together in day rooms, vulnerable older people being left unsupervised resulting in resident falls and day-to-day requests going unattended to for lengthy periods of time such as pleas to be put to bed or use the toilet. The undercover carer also witnessed multiple examples of poor manual handling with older residents frequently lifted under the arms and without the required use of proper handling equipment contrary to best practice. On some occasions staff were hampered by a lack of available equipment, while in one instance management also instructed healthcare assistants not to use hoisting equipment in public areas for fear their poor technique would be seen by visitors. Beneavin Manor nursing home in Glasnevin, Dublin. Photo: Collins At Beneavin Manor in Dublin, which can provide care for up to 115 adults for approximately €1,400 per week with Fair Deal funding, another undercover researcher saw similar patterns of staff under pressure. Staff also faced constant challenges when it came to the supply of essential resources with recurring shortages of basic items such as towels, bedsheets, sanitary wipes and gloves. Advertisement The researcher also witnessed the inappropriate handling of vulnerable residents with frail older people sometimes moved by their clothing instead of using the correct handling equipment mandated in their care plans. RTÉ had both researchers hand in their notice and report all their concerns to management at the nursing homes and to the regulatory body, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa). The response In response to the documentary, Emeis Ireland issued an apology to to all residents and their families for 'the suffering and distress experienced as a result of failures identified in the care provided'. It said it recognised and deeply regrets the 'breach of trust' and 'any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times'. Advertisement Emeis Ireland said it has commenced a comprehensive review across both nursing homes. Hiqa, which is responsible for inspecting nursing homes, said it is taking 'escalating action' over the 'wholly unacceptable' practices identified in the programme. It said a decision to halt admissions to the Residence Portlaoise came into effect in April. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke expressed his distress at the revelations in the RTÉ investigation. 'It was very distressing to see vulnerable people to be treated the way they were. When you consider elderly people who have given so much for our economy, for our state, to be treated like that in their twilight years was absolutely reprehensible,' he told RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne show. Labour TD Alan Kelly said Hiqa had a 'lot of questions to answer' following the broadcast, adding that the agency needed to be properly supported to 'actually do its job'. Mr Kelly said demographic changes in the country necessitate a completely different strategy for care of older and vulnerable people, including more public nursing homes and plans for increased home help and care in the home. He also said Hiqa and other organisations need the Government to put an adult safeguarding framework in place. The chairwoman of Safeguarding Ireland said she was 'disturbed, distressed, and angry' over the findings of the programme. In reference to a previous RTÉ documentary on the Leas Cross Nursing Home 20 years ago, Patricia Rickard-Clark added: 'We have gone backwards, I think.' Ms Rickard-Clark told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the Government needs to establish an inter-department and inter-agency working group to deal with recommendations from the Law Reform Commission on adult safeguarding. Disability Minister Norma Foley described the programme as 'horrifying' and 'heartbreaking'. 'To see older people struggle to be heard, to be listened to and to be cared for is quite appalling.' Ms Foley said she believed that a lack of guidelines on staff-to-resident ratio in nursing homes should be 'looked at'. What next? A review of all nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland has now been requested by the Department of Health. Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Older People Kieran O'Donnell has asked Hiqa to start the review of all nursing homes operated by the group in the wake of the RTÉ Investigates programme. Ireland Nursing home revelations 'extremely distressing' a... Read More He said the treatment of residents at the nursing homes was 'extremely distressing' and 'wholly unacceptable'. The Minister said he wanted to see inspections happening more frequently and faster responses to protected disclosures. Hiqa's chief inspector 'is taking escalated regulatory action in the nursing homes identified' and 'will take any necessary additional actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents', a spokesperson said. Hiqa ordered admissions to The Residence in Portlaoise to be ceased after the release of a report in February detailed areas of significant concern. – Additional reporting: Vivienne Clarke, Press Association
