Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 12 inspection reports on residential centres for older people. HIQA independently monitors designated centres for older people for compliance with the Health Act (2007) Regulations and the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland (2016), to ensure that the older people living in nursing homes are safe and well looked after.

Seven of today’s reports relate to 10-outcome inspections, three reports are 18-outcome inspections, one is a thematic inspection focusing on dementia care, and one refers to a single specific issue inspection.

Evidence of good practice and compliance with the regulations and standards was found in seven centres. These inspections found that care was generally being delivered in line with the National Standards and regulations.

However, five reports found evidence of non-compliance. Residents’ needs were not always met in these centres, and non-compliance was identified by inspectors in areas such as suitable staffing; health and social care needs; governance and management; and safe and suitable premises.