The Health Service Executive (HSE) is to remove residents from Leas Cross nursing home as soon as possible because of concerns about their safety and the overall level of care provided.
The Swords, Co Dublin, home was the subject of a recent RTÉ Prime Timedocumentary after a reporter secretly filmed staff at work. It showed, in one case, an elderly woman apparently restrained in a chair against her will, and incidents where residents were visibly upset.
In a statement this afternoon, the HSE Northern Area said it could confirm that "alternative arrangements" will be made for the provision of care to 24 patients placed at the home by the HSE and residents for which it pays a subsidy.
"This will be effected in consultation with the patients and their families and or next-of-kin where necessary. The HSE will also consult with the private patients in Leas Cross Nursing Home (as well as their families and or next-of-kin) apprising them of the HSE’s concerns in relation to patient safety and the overall level of patient care and will be advising them to make alternative arrangements," the statement said.
"The HSE hopes that these arrangements can be effected in a timely manner with due cognisance taken in relation to individual needs, personal and family and or next-of-kin support."
"The HSE has formed the opinion that the carrying on of Leas Cross Nursing Home will not be or is not in compliance with the Nursing Home (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993 . . . and to this end the HSE will take whatever necessary steps are deemed appropriate.
"These measures are being taken to enable the HSE to fulfil its duty of care and obligations immediately to the patients in Leas Cross," the statement concluded.
Asked for clarification on points raised in the statement, a spokeswoman for the HSE Northern Area could not confirm whether it would seek to close the nursing home.
However, she said residents would be removed "as soon as possible".
There are around 90 residents currently at Leas Cross.
Age Action, an advocacy body for older people, said it welcomed the HSE’s swift reaction to events at the home following the finding that it was not in compliance with the regulations.
"The interests of the older people there are paramount," said Age Action. "The HSE's swift reaction and unwillingness to tolerate poor standards in the care of the frailest of the frail will it is hoped be a portent, a sign that homes will in future face rigorous assessment with significant action when they fail to perform," the group said.
The HSE is to conduct a State-wide review of how private nursing homes are inspected. The review will examine whether current inspections are "sufficiently robust" and whether health authorities are consistent in their assessments of the homes.
Official regulations require that homes are inspected at least twice a year, but it emerged last month that 83 private nursing homes were inspected only once last year. In some cases, nursing homes were also warned in advance of inspections.
The nursing home regulations cover in detail the kind of facilities that should be available to residents as well as the required medical cover and staffing levels.