Nursing Homes Ireland Annual Conference Highlights: Uniting the Sector in a Call for Reform

Tuesday September 24, 2024

“Record Attendance at Nursing Homes Ireland Annual Conference as Sector Unites to Address Care Challenges”

Over 500 delegates, speakers, and exhibitors, gathered last Thursday for the Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Annual Conference, marking the highest attendance in recent years. This record turnout underscores the urgent need for collaboration and discussion around the critical challenges facing nursing home and older person care in Ireland.

Minister Mary Butler Highlights the Need for Collective Action

In her speech, Minister Mary Butler, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, addressed the current state of nursing home care and underscored the urgent need for collective action to tackle the challenges facing the sector. She also provided an update on the ongoing review of the Fair Deal scheme, established in 2019 to address the scheme’s sustainability and fairness. Originally expected to be completed within 24 months, Minister Butler confirmed the final report will now be released by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Nursing Homes Ireland looks forward to the publication of this review and is committed to working closely with the Minister and her government colleagues to secure the future of nursing home care in Ireland.

Thought Leadership and Collaboration

The conference opened with an inspiring welcome from Jillian van Turnhout, Chair of Nursing Homes Ireland, who set the tone for a day focused on solutions. Following Minister Butler’s address, a series of impactful presentations from experts in the Department of Health, NTPF, HSE, and nursing homes explored the future of care, workforce challenges, and sector-wide strategies. The day concluded with closing remarks from NHI CEO Tadhg Daly, reflecting on the discussions and charting the road ahead.

Tadhg Daly’s Closing Remarks

In his closing remarks, Tadhg Daly extended his gratitude to Minister Mary Butler:
“We appreciate that the Minister joined us today and understands many of the challenges we face. Our aim is to ensure she also understands the responsibility she has in advocating with her government colleagues to ensure we have a viable, sustainable sector into the future. With the budget coming soon, we await it with great interest.”

Daly also thanked his colleagues and staff at Nursing Homes Ireland:
“I’d also like to thank my colleagues and the staff here at Nursing Homes Ireland for all their hard work in making today happen. Their effort has been extraordinary, and we owe them a big thank you.”

Reflecting on the day’s discussions, Daly acknowledged the challenges ahead:
“It’s clear that we, as a society, face significant challenges, but these are challenges we can overcome. Listening to our keynote speaker, Deborah Somorin, speak about overcoming adversity, maybe we could all benefit from a little more determination as we push forward. We need that spirit as we face the realities of our ageing demographic, and we must celebrate the fact that people are living longer.”

CEO Highlights Key Budget Asks

Daly outlined the key priorities from NHI’s Pre-Budget Submission:
“First, we need a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the cumulative costs coming our way. While initiatives like enrolment, pensions, wage increases, and permits are positive, they all come with a price tag. Second, we need increased funding for Fair Deal. While some stability has been brought to the sector, it’s still not enough. Third, we must recognise the crucial role of healthcare assistants (HCAs), including ensuring their registration with CORU. Finally, access to therapies must improve. Our residents are being discriminated against daily, and they deserve equal access to services like physiotherapy and speech therapy.”

Daly also emphasised the need for a national conversation on care for older people:
“When we talk about the ageing demographic, it’s not some abstract concept—it’s you and me. We need a real conversation about care for older people, not just within nursing homes but across the board. Nursing homes, however, do play a critical role in this.”

Closing on a positive note, Daly stressed:
“The challenges we face are big, but they are not insurmountable. We’ve faced tough times before, and we will rise to meet these challenges once again.”

Conference Theme: Meeting the Challenges of Caring, Together

This year’s theme, “Meeting the Challenges of Caring, Together”, resonated throughout the day as key stakeholders from across the healthcare sector united to address the pressing issues in nursing home care. The conference fostered an open dialogue on how to support the care of older people in Ireland and create a sustainable path forward for the sector.

Call to Action: Save Our Nursing Homes

With 77 nursing homes closing in recent years and over 2,600 beds lost, particularly in rural and local communities, the conference served as a stark reminder that the time for action is now. The current crisis not only affects the capacity to care for older people but also threatens the sustainability of local care services. Attendees agreed that collective efforts are urgently needed to secure the future of nursing home care, ensuring that older people continue to receive the high-quality care they deserve in their own communities.