HIQA reiterates warning nursing home resident care must be supported by proper funding model
Friday December 2, 20222nd December 2022: Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) has again urged the Government to heed the repeated warning emanating from the regulator HIQA regarding the requirement for implementation of a fit for purpose funding model commensurate with the care needs of nursing home residents. HIQA today published Overview report on the monitoring and regulation of older persons services in 2020 and 2021.
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO states: “It is welcome HIQA reports that during the most challenging period for the nursing home sector, when it was confronted with an unprecedented pandemic and national emergency, that high levels of regulatory compliance are reported by the regulator. The report sets out the extreme challenges that were presented to nursing homes in caring for residents during the pandemic, highlighting just how difficult a time it was for residents, their families and friends, and staff. HIQA highlight during the unprecedented challenge of caring for a very vulnerable population during a global pandemic, providers and staff provided high-quality care for their residents. It is heartening to see the hard work, sacrifice and real impact that the pandemic had on the nursing home sector reflected in this report. However, it also serves as a reminder of the harsh and tough reality that the pandemic brought to residents, their family members, nursing home staff and providers. High levels of compliance with the regulations is shown and nursing home providers and staff are to be commended for this.
“HIQA is taking opportunity to re-emphasise the requirement to properly plan for how older people should receive care into the future. It is repeating its call for introduction of a sustainable funding model which is commensurate with the care needs of nursing home residents. The regulator has issued this call on a repeated basis and given the levels of closures that are occurring within the nursing home sector, which the report highlights, it is incumbent upon the Government to act with haste and prioritise reform of Fair Deal to enable it reflect the reality of resident care needs.”
Tadhg Daly is available for further comment. Interviews will be facilitated by Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications and Research Executive, who can be contacted at 087 9082970.