The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) today published its 2015 Overview Report on the regulation of designated centres for older people. A total of 411 nursing home inspections were carried out last year in 343 registered residential centres across the country, with almost half of all inspections being unannounced.

Mary Dunnion, Chief Inspector, HIQA said: “A key finding from last year’s inspections is that governance and leadership within nursing homes lays the foundations for the quality of care provided to residents. The provision of high quality, safe service is found in centres where managers, providers and persons in charge continually look for innovative ways to improve the evolving needs, preferences and rights of individual residents. The provision of individualized assessment and care planning, as well as staff with specific expertise, is essential in providing a truly person-centred service for nursing home residents”.

Good levels of compliance with regulations relating to provision of appropriate healthcare, food and nutrition and end-of-life care were found in the centres inspected. The three most common areas of non-compliance included issues related to premises, health and safety and risk management, and fire safety.

2015 also saw a rise in the number of registered centres, increasing from 565 in 2014 to 577 centres and providing 30,106 residential beds. Of the 343 centres inspected, 83% received one inspection visit. Ten centres were inspected three times each and one centre received four inspection visits.

The vast majority of the 577 centres are operated by private providers, amounting to 76%. Twenty-one per cent are operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and 3% by HSE-funded bodies (voluntary). Three centres closed during 2015. While one was a voluntary closure, formal enforcement procedures were used in respect of two centres.

Mary Dunnion, Chief Inspector, HIQA continued: “There was a reduction in unsolicited information from the public in 2015, where concerned individuals contacted HIQA directly regarding issues relating to services. Most unsolicited information comes from relatives of residents and last year, 516 items of information were received, compared with 609 items in 2014.

“Although some progress has been made in a number of areas, providers of residential care services must continue to drive improvements in 2016. Person-centred care is at the heart of HIQA’s work and an evolving approach to the regulation of older people’s services is required to take account of the changing needs of our population. Plans for next year include the expansion of our programme of dementia care thematic inspections in at least 160 centres. Our focus and commitment is to ensure that all people working across the sector are equally as committed to delivering high quality, considerate care to every individual resident”.

All 2015 inspection reports are available online.

Ends.

Further Information:

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, HIQA 01 814 7480 / 086 2447 623 mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to the Editor:

• During 2015, HIQA received 10,572 regulatory notifications. Unexpected deaths, loss of power, outbreaks of disease, allegations of abuse, serious injury, fire and staff misconduct are notifiable events.
• A number of guidance documents were published by HIQA in 2015. These included:
  • Guidance on Dementia Care for Designated Centres for Older People, February 2015
  • Statutory Notifications – guidance for registered providers and persons in charge of designated centres, June 2015
  • Medicines Management Guidance, October 2015
  • Fire Precautions in Designated Centres, Draft Guidance for Registered Providers and Persons in Charge of Designated Centres for Older People, November 2015
  • Provider Portal – User Guide for Providers, December 2015
• Central Statistic Office (CSO) figures estimate the over 65 population was 606,000 in 2015. This figure is predicted to increase to 860,000 by 2026.