Proper nursing home inspection teams are still not in place in all areas across the State, a public health doctor involved in nursing home inspections said yesterday.
Vice-president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) Dr Paula Gilvarry also said the composition of inspection teams varied across the State. "I notice that the teams are still not fully in place, that there is huge variety in the teams around the country.
"You would need a doctor, a nurse, an environmental health officer and proper, trained administrative support to make up a team. There should be one in each local health office area," she said.
"A lot of these teams are only working half time. They must have the time to do it," she added.
She acknowledged that an effort was being made by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to put the teams in place, but said they were constrained by the employment ceiling.
Dr Christine O'Malley, a consultant geriatrician at Nenagh General Hospital and president of the IMO, said recent nursing home scandals have demonstrated that the Government and the HSE have not established a robust inspection system.
Responding to their comments, made at the publication of the IMO's pre-budget submission, the HSE said resources had been identified for dedicated nursing home inspection teams. It also said a national and standardised template for robust inspections was in place and inspections were being carried out on this basis.