PROFIT ALMOST doubled last year at the State’s largest provider of private nursing home care for elderly people.

Mowlam Healthcare says profit jumped to €1.6 million in 2010 compared to €850,752 in the previous year.

The Mowlam Healthcare Group, which has its headquarters in Limerick, operates 16 nursing homes in the State with a capacity of more than 900 beds.

Turnover at the group increased by 17 per cent to €30.2 million last year, according to the figures released yesterday.

The company created 123 jobs in 2010, ending the year with 803 people employed.

“We continue to see an increasing demand for quality nursing home care in custom-designed facilities,” company chairman Pat Shanahan said. It noted that 2010 had been “a positive year, with increased turnover, employee numbers and an increase in profit to €1.6 million”.

He said the company was pleased the Government had “reaffirmed its commitment to funding the nursing home support scheme, Fair Deal.

“This enables our elderly, often vulnerable citizens to access high quality, affordable healthcare with ease,” he added.

Mr Shanahan also noted the positive work done by the Health Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) in nursing home facilities. The agency raised issues regarding the group’s Sligo home.

“We continue to work closely with Hiqa to constantly improve the standards across the nursing home care sector, including the provision of social activities and therapies,” he said.

Mr Shanahan said the company’s profit allowed it to reinvest “in improving the standard of care and the quality of life for all residents in our nursing homes”.

The demand for nursing home care in Ireland continues to grow. This demand is forecasted to double over the next 20 years as a result of an ageing Irish population and the changing nature of the support systems that traditionally cared for elderly people, Mr Shanahan said.