The HSE orders a review of all deaths since 2002 at the nursing home which was the subject of a television investigation.
Opened in 1989, Leas Cross nursing home in north Dublin was at the centre of controversy earlier this year following an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme that revealed residents were living in sub-standard conditions. The private nursing home closed in August after the Health Service Executive (HSE) removed patients that it had placed there. The HSE has now confirmed that there will be a review of all 95 deaths at the home since 2002.
Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd points out that the home was twenty nurses below what was required to meet the quality of care that people should be able to expect. The HSE review is being carried out by Professor Des O'Neill, a specialist in old age medicine and will examine medical records, coroner reports, death certificates and standards of care.
Leas Cross had over a hundred beds with most of its patients in the medium to high dependency category.
Paul Murray, Age Action Ireland, says that the controversy at Leas Cross emphasised the need for the establishment of an independent inspectorate for nursing homes.
Not many of us go to nursing homes but it's very important to ensure that those of us who do are looked after and have proper custody and care.
The review is expected to take two months to complete.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 October 2005. The reporter is Fergal Bowers.
