Patrick Costello
Question:28. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the families of individuals moved from Cherry Orchard Hospital. [23317/24]
View answerThursday, 13 June 2024
Questions (28)
Written answers
The Department of Health has engaged with numerous representations from residents’ families and their representatives, and from local councillors and TD’s. I understand fully the upset and anxiety this has caused for the affected families. The HSE has assured me that they are doing everything possible to alleviate the distress this decision has caused. As Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I take the health and safety of residents in long-term residential care facilities very seriously. I will not ignore a directive from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) stating that there is a fire and safety risk in any facility that potentially jeopardises the welfare and wellbeing of nursing home residents and the staff who work there. HIQA is the statutory independent regulator for this sector and this responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising of Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and Quality Standards. In discharging its duties, HIQA determines through examination of all information available to it, including site inspections, whether a nursing home meets the regulations in order to achieve and maintain its registration status. I am fully supportive of HIQA and their capacity to visit any long-term residential care facility to ensure that the best practices are being implemented and the best supports are being provided to older people. It is important that we have the processes in place to ensure that standards are maintained. I have previously stated, and I wish to reiterate here, that while I am Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People there will be no diminution of HIQA’s role vis-à-vis standards and regulations. The Department of Health has maintained open and transparent lines of communication with the families of the residents, and with the HSE, at all times throughout the process of managing the issues at Cherry Orchard Hospital and accommodating residents elsewhere on a temporary basis. It is my understanding that the HSE has met with the families several times since the safety issues at Willow and Sycamore units were first identified and explained in full detail the nature of the problems and the rationale for the decision to temporarily transfer residents from these units to facilitate completion of the remedial works. While the Department and I have been kept fully informed and updated by the HSE at all times, the HSE are closer to the situation at Cherry Orchard and are in the best position to provide an accurate, immediate, informed evaluation of these matters. It is important that the residents and their families continue to engage with the HSE in respect of these matters.