The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) stopped admissions to one of two nursing homes featured in last night’s RTÉ Investigates documentary following an inspection this year and said that “through its inspections” of both it had “identified a number of significant concerns” in recent years.
The programme uncovered multiple examples of care failings and neglect of vulnerable older residents at The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin in north Dublin, two nursing homes run by Emeis Ireland.
Following the broadcast, HIQA issued a statement detailing the actions it had taken in relation to both premises in recent years.
A spokesperson for HIQA confirmed that admissions to The Residence Portlaoise had been stopped “as part of its escalatory action”.
It said “further inspection reports on both of these centres are currently being finalised and will be published shortly”.
However, HIQA confirmed that it is now taking further action on foot of the RTÉ Investigates documentary.
“We are very concerned about the practices described in the programme and we have engaged directly with those responsible for the operation of the nursing homes,” the statement said, “accordingly, we will be taking the necessary actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents”.
In 2024, HIQA inspectors conducted 840 inspections of nursing homes and it said that 84% of those were “unannounced”.
According to HIQA, most nursing homes can expect one or two inspections a year, but “we carry out more inspections in those centres where there are concerns about the care and welfare of residents or where there is repeated non-compliance with the regulations”.
In 2024, HIQA said 36 nursing homes received three or more inspections in response to persistent non-compliance.
“The nursing homes featured in this programme were subject to a number of additional inspections in an effort to bring them into compliance,” the HIQA statement said.
HIQA said that while the vast majority of nursing homes provide good quality care, it said “a small number… struggle to maintain compliance with the regulations”.
It said that “where there is persistent non-compliance with the regulations or where there is risk to residents’ safety” HIQA’s Chief Inspector can take a number of enforcement steps.
These may include stopping new admissions “until improvements are made” or “in some cases cancelling the registration of a designated centre”.
HIQA said it was “conscious” that nursing homes are people’s homes and that this latter course of action “can cause significant upset and distress to residents and their families”.
In 2024, HIQA refused to renew registration or cancelled the registration of ten nursing homes.
‘Wake-up call’
The Minister for Older People said he met with HIQA yesterday to discuss issues raised in the RTÉ Investigates programme.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Kieran O’Donnell said he now expects HIQA and the Chief Inspector to use all their available powers to improve the situation.
“What we saw last night was a wake up call for everyone,” he said, adding that there have to be environments that are safe for older people.
Mr O’Donnell said he has asked HIQA to carry out an overview of the Emeis group and the regulation and enforcement in all the group’s nursing homes.
He said he also told HIQA that he wants to see inspections taking place quicker, and to re-double its efforts to deal with these two nursing homes.
The minister said HIQA told him it has adequate resources and sufficient statutory powers.
Mr O’Donnell stressed that 87% of the homes audited by HIQA are compliant and provide great care for residents.
He said there is a commitment for a national policy on safeguarding for adults in the Programme for Government and he wants this brought to Cabinet before the summer recess.
‘Not acceptable’
The Chairperson of Safeguarding Ireland said she was disturbed, distressed and angry at what she saw on last night’s programme.
Patricia Rickard-Clark said it is not acceptable that there was a delay of four months before HIQA carried out an inspection after concerns were raised by nurse Clare Doyle.
Ms Rickard-Clark said that “even if there is one person being abused that is a serious incident that should be followed up immediately”.
She said that despite the scandal at the Leas Cross nursing home in Swords in Dublin 20 years ago, things have gone backwards.
A Prime Time report in 2005 revealed sub-standard living conditions at the facility.
Ms Rickard-Clark said she knew that abuses were going on but did not expect such gaps to still exist in 2025.
She called on the Government to establish a working group, with a senior public servant seconded to it, to deal with and implement the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission’s report that was published in April 2024 and sets out the policy and legal changes that need to be made.
This would put a legal framework in place, she said.
“At the moment, we’re working to a HSE limited policy, which is run by the HSE by safeguarding and protection teams, but it is very limited to limited healthcare issues,” she said.
“There are much wider issues in safeguarding.”
Ms Rickard-Clark said HIQA has questions to answer.
However, she pointed out that the health watchdog looks at systemic issues and does not have the function of dealing with individual complaints or concerns.
