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Irish Times
a day ago
- 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.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Ministers mull powers for health watchdog to inspect firms that own nursing homes
Ministers are looking at the provision of additional regulatory powers to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) to inspect nursing homes, the Department of Health has said. Among the areas being examined is to allow the health service watchdog to look at companies and the parent corporate structures that own some private nursing homes. At the weekend, the department said that 'actions [are] to be taken as a matter of priority'. Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for older people Kieran O'Donnell told the Dáil on Thursday that concerning licensing, there was 'absolutely' a lacuna there at the moment. READ MORE 'Within a group of companies, the licensing inspection is on individual nursing homes and who they are run by, but the parent company is not under Hiqa's remit. I want that to be changed. There is an acceptance in that regard.' Mr O'Donnell said that at present, a Hiqa report on a particular nursing home was based on findings of an inspection that could have taken place several months earlier. 'I want to see that report updated with the current position of the nursing homes and whether they have complied with any conditions required of them under the inspections. That makes common sense', said the Minister in reply to questions from Marie Sherlock of the Labour Party . 'In the context of Hiqa's enforcement powers, it is correct to say that Hiqa cannot issue fines directly. We have no issue in this regard. It is something Hiqa recommends and we very much support,' said Mr O'Donnell. The Minister's comments came in the aftermath of the revelations by RTÉ Investigates earlier this month of examples of care failings and neglect of vulnerable older residents at two nursing homes run by Emeis , one of the State's largest private providers of residential care. The department, in a statement to The Irish Times, this weekend said: 'Minister O'Donnell, Minister [for Health, Jennifer] Carroll MacNeill and members across Government, are deeply concerned at the level of noncompliance in evidence from the distressing footage aired during the RTÉ Investigates programme on the 4th of June, and on Prime Time on the 10th June. 'The interim report from Hiqa and the Office of the Chief Inspector was published on Tuesday, 17th June. Hiqa has stated in this interim report that they have no legal remit currently with respect to umbrella or parent companies such as Emeis Ireland and that this needs to be considered as a matter of priority. 'Hiqa has acknowledged the importance of examining its processes and methodology. It is essential that these are continually being looked at for ways to improve the inspection and regulation of nursing homes.' The department said the need for additional regulatory powers in respect of nursing homes was being considered, with actions to be taken as a matter of priority. 'It is important that all aspects of the nursing home sector are scrutinised 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 will remain our highest priority.'
Irish Times
18-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Minister ‘has concerns' over nursing-home sector's increasing privatisation
Minister of State for older people Kieran O'Donnell said he has 'concerns' about the increasing privatisation of the nursing home sector, particularly in light of recent allegations of elder abuse and neglect at two centres. The Minister appeared before the Oireachtas health committee on Wednesday, after a programme by RTÉ Investigates highlighted instances of alleged abuse at Beneavin House, Dublin, and The Residence, Portlaoise. Both homes are run by Emeis, the largest provider of private nursing home beds in the State. The programme included footage of frail, older people, some of whom had dementia, allegedly being manhandled, 'forced' down into chairs, being left in chairs for hours, being left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked and being ignored when they pleaded for help to go to the toilet. Speaking to politicians, Mr O'Donnell said some 75 per cent of nursing homes in Ireland are privately run, adding: 'I would have concerns around the growth in the groups area.' READ MORE The Minister said the department commissioned a European body to look at the increased group ownership of nursing homes, and the potential risks of this both financially and in the case of quality of care. That report is due in September, he said, adding it will be 'considered greatly'. The Minister also revealed his officials have informed him of 'notifiable incidents' in two other nursing homes, one of which involved the gardaí. 'They were very serious incidents,' he said. In light of the issues highlighted in the Emeis-run homes, the Minister said it is his hope to bring forward safeguarding legislation 'as a matter of urgency'. Speaking at the same meeting, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), which regulates the nursing home sector, said it has a number of levers to ensure compliance with the regulations, with the cancellation of a registration being a 'nuclear option'. Last year, the HSE took over six nursing homes that were operated by private entities. Furthermore, the regulator said 95 homes have additional conditions attached to their registration as of June 5th. These conditions can relate to a number of things, including staffing levels, specific care procedures or the number of residents a centre can accommodate. It added that due to the 'changing landscape' of increased corporatisation, there is a need to change the regulatory framework. Angela Fitzgerald, chief executive of Hiqa, said under the current system the body can only direct individual providers to do something and it does not have 'powers' to direct corporate companies. 'We work on the basis of co-operation,' she said, calling for Hiqa's regulatory powers to be increased in this area. In a statement following the broadcast, Emeis Ireland apologised 'unequivocally' to all residents and their families. 'We recognise and deeply regret the breach of trust that has occurred in relation to the service standards we promise, and for any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times,' the company said. A report by Hiqa on Emeis-run nursing homes is due by the end of this week.
Irish Times
17-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Almost 200 notifications alleging abuse of residents in nursing home at centre of safeguarding controversy
A nursing home at the centre of a safeguarding controversy had almost 200 notifications alleging abuse of residents over a 3½ year period, said a report from a health watchdog. Minister of State for Older People Kieran O'Donnell on Tuesday night published the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA's) interim report on regulatory oversight of two nursing homes – The Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Dublin, which are run by Emeis Ireland. The report was requested following the airing of an RTÉ Investigates programme which made allegations of elder abuse and neglect. The programme included footage of frail people, some of whom had dementia, allegedly being manhandled, 'forced' down into chairs, left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked, being ignored when they pleaded for help to go to the toilet and having requests for simple activities like going for walks being fobbed off. READ MORE [ Woman in Dublin nursing home left in diarrhoea and vomit-stained bed sheets for 48 hours, says daughter Opens in new window ] In a statement following the broadcast, Emeis Ireland apologised 'unequivocally' to all residents and their families. 'We recognise and deeply regret the breach of trust that has occurred in relation to the service standards we promise, and for any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times,' the company said. 'These lapses fall short of the values and standards we set for ourselves as an organisation.' In its interim report, Hiqa said between January 1st, 2022 and June 5th last, it had received 11 notifications of unexpected deaths residents in Beneavin Manor. Furthermore, it said there were 70 notifications of serious incident or injury to a resident that required hospital admission or resulted in death; 198 notifications alleging suspected or confirmed incidents of abuse to residents, and 11 allegations of misconduct by the registered provider or a staff member. [ What is Emeis and where are its Irish care homes located? Opens in new window ] In the second nursing home, The Residence in Portlaoise, there were 23 unexpected deaths of residents and 40 notifications alleging suspected or confirmed abuse of residents. Hiqa's report states that a high number of notifications received from a service does 'not necessarily indicate a non-compliant service, and often means a strong culture of recognising and submitting incidents which fall into the required notification categories'. The report said it is important to note that notifications are required where there is a suspicion or allegation of abuse, which may or may not be substantiated. These allegations can include a wide range of incidents such as residents having altercations with other residents, the tone someone is spoken to in, through to more significant suspicions or allegations, it said . In a statement, the Department of Health said the content and findings of the interim report is being considered along with a full report which is due from Hiqa by the end of this week. Hiqa said the 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,' it added. Hiqa representatives are appear before the Oireachtas health committee on Wednesday morning.
Irish Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Who is Emeis and where are their Irish care homes located?
Emeis is a French nursing home group formerly known as Orpea. It entered the Irish market in 2020 through the takeover of the TLC Nursing Home portfolio and followed up with further deals. 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 the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to start the review of all nursing homes operated by the group in the wake of Wednesday's RTÉ Investigates programme. Emeis Ireland runs 27 residential homes across the State, two of which were the subject of the broadcast, which detailed alleged elder abuse and neglect , scenes described by HIQA as 'wholly unacceptable and shocking'. READ MORE Who is Emeis? The nursing home group entered the Irish market in 2020 through the takeover of the TLC Nursing Home portfolio and followed up with further deals. It reported a €70.2 million net loss in 2023, according to its latest annual financial statement, filed with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) in December 2024. That brought its accumulated losses over three years to more than €223 million. Emeis Ireland, the largest private operator in the sector, attributed most of the losses to the writing down of goodwill associated with peak-of-market acquisitions. Still, the company remained profitable at earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) level throughout the period. This was helped by the fact that, unlike several operators that entered the market in recent times, it owns most of its properties. Its French parent required a bailout in 2023, led by a state-owned investment firm, in the wake of a scandal over residents' mistreatment in its home market. 'The directors' primary concern is with the health and safety of the group's residents and our employees,' Emeis said in the annual financial statement 'The directors closely monitor and assess the ongoing risks to the health and safety of all residents and employees and develop responses accordingly.'
