Ireland

Head of Nursing Homes Ireland accuses Irish government of 'isolating' sector

The Irish government's response to coronavirus in nursing homes has been strongly criticised
The Irish government's response to coronavirus in nursing homes has been strongly criticised The Irish government's response to coronavirus in nursing homes has been strongly criticised

The head of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) has accused Government authorities of leaving the nursing home sector and its residents "isolated" at the outbreak of Covid-19.

Tadhg Daly heavily criticised the State's response to nursing homes as it grappled with clusters of the virus spreading through a number of residential facilities.

The CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland told the special Oireachtas Covid-19 committee that the "dismay will live forever with us".

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Intensive care boss in Republic 'considerably worried' over risk of second waveOpens in new window ]

Mr Daly gave evidence to the committee today as it examines how NHI and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) managed the pandemic in care homes.

Mr Daly said the sector was left "exasperated" as it needed a specific plan from the Government.

Outlining some of the challenges, Mr Daly said there was insufficient testing of residents and staff, a mass shortfall of personal protective equipment (PPE), aggressive recruitment of nursing home staff and discharges from acute hospitals to nursing homes without testing.

"The NTPF (National Treatment Purchase Fund), the authority responsible for the commissioning of nursing home care, fell silent as homes incurred considerable and responsible costs to manage the pandemic," Mr Daly said.

"The Department of Health eventually intervened.

"Key State organisations left the nursing home sector and its residents isolated in those early days.

"Covid-19 has presented the most seismic challenge for our health services and specifically for nursing homes."

Nursing homes in the Republic were left 'isolated' at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a Dail committee has heard
Nursing homes in the Republic were left 'isolated' at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a Dail committee has heard Nursing homes in the Republic were left 'isolated' at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a Dail committee has heard

Sage Advocacy executive director Mervyn Taylor told the committee that the impact of the outbreak has been "frightening" for many residents, and for those with dementia the arrival of people in full PPE was "terrifying".

"Serious shortages of staff meant that there was little, if any, time to provide support to residents in facilities where many died," Mr Taylor added.

"For families with relatives who were extremely ill or dying, the inability to visit or to even talk to their loved one by phone was a source of considerable distress and frustration.

"At the core of this issue is the fragmented nature of social care for older people.

"Home support services, such as they are, are not on a statutory basis, are not regulated and have no clear vision, other than the level of home care packages that can be provided in any one year.

"Care in nursing homes is on a statutory basis and is regulated, but it has an overly complex and ultimately dangerous architecture."