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HIQA representatives are before the Public Accounts Committee

HIQA taking regulatory action against two nursing homes

HIQA has again apologised to people who feel the agency let them down after revelations about neglect and staff shortages in two nursing homes run by Emeis Ireland.

Politics • 17 Jul

As it happened: HIQA questioned over nursing homes

Follow updates as the Health Information and Quality Authority appears before the Oireachtas Committee on Health.

Politics • 18 Jun

Micheál Martin said an examination of regulations is needed to ensure 'this doesn't happen again'

'Issues' in HIQA approach to home inspections - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that HIQA's regulatory framework will have to be examined in light of revelations in the RTÉ Investigates documentary on nursing homes, which he described as horrific, shocking and unacceptable.

Health • 06 Jun

HIQA conducted a review into the use of unapproved springs in a series of spinal surgeries (Pic: RollingNews.ie)

Key findings from HIQA spinal surgeries review

Here are the key findings from a HIQA review into the use of unapproved springs in a series of spinal surgeries by one surgeon at Children's Health Ireland Temple Street.

Health • 08 Apr

Between October 2023 and July 2024, Tusla data indicated that unallocated cases in its Midlands child protection and welfare service did not rise above 16% (File image)

Welfare cases not assigned social workers under-reported

The Health Information and Quality Authority has revealed that Tusla significantly under-reported child welfare cases who were not allocated social workers over a nine month period.

Ireland • 28 Mar

HIQA found that Sunbeam House Services had not put effective governance and management systems in place to protect residents from the risk of abuse.

Provider failed to protect residents from risk of abuse

A residential service for people with intellectual disabilities was found to have restrictive practices, poor management of safeguarding incidents, poor staffing arrangements and poor behavioural support for residents when it was inspected last year.

Ireland • 25 Feb

HIQA found poor awareness and oversight of potential abusive engagements between residents (Stock image)

Provider failed to protect residents from abuse - HIQA

An inspection of a disability service by the Health Information and Quality Authority found the provider failed to protect its residents from "all forms of abuse"

Ireland • 12 Dec 24

The survey published by the Health Information and Quality Authority involved responses from 12,367 patients (File image)

Most hospital patients rate care positively, survey finds

A majority of patients have rated their hospital care positively, according to the latest National Inpatient Experience Survey.

Health • 10 Dec 24

Lack of placements has led some children being unable to move on from some services when ready to do so (Stock image)

HIQA concerned over child residential care issues

The Health Information and Quality Authority has expressed "significant concern" over children living in unregulated special accommodation arrangements.

Health • 09 Dec 24

HIQA said the safeguarding incident was not promptly escalated internally (Stock image)

Four children were missing from IPAS centre for two weeks

Four children went missing from an IPAS centre for just over two weeks, according to a Health Information and Quality Authority report.

Ireland • 27 Nov 24

While it is national policy to decongregate, there is no legal requirement to do so (Stock image)

Lack of pace in move away from larger centres - HIQA

The pace at which people with disabilities move from larger settings to community housing has stalled in recent years, according to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

Ireland • 26 Nov 24

One patient aged over 75 was found to have been waiting longer than 24 hours in the ED after registration

Poor conditions for patients at Drogheda hospital - HIQA

Poor conditions for patients and long wait times at the Emergency Department have been reported at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, according to HIQA.

Ireland • 23 Oct 24

Of the 50 reports published, inspectors found evidence of good practice and compliance in several inspections (Stock image)

Unpaid gas bill left care home without hot showers - HIQA

Failure by a nursing home to pay its gas supplier on time resulted in residents going without showers for 24 hours, according to the Health Information and Quality Authority.

Ireland • 10 Oct 24

The provider has since informed HIQA that the fire exit door handle in the kitchen has been fixed

Spoon required to open door at Galway nursing home - HIQA

A Health Information and Quality Authority report says a spoon had to be used to open a fire exit door at nursing home in Co Galway during an unannounced inspection last summer.

Ireland • 21 Mar 24

Safeguarding issues found at some nursing homes - HIQA

Several safeguarding issues at nursing homes were discovered by the Health Information and Quality Authority in recent inspections.

Ireland • 27 Feb 24

HIQA inspectors also reviewed an incident where a period of single separation could not be ended due to staff shortages (File image)

Oberstown staff shortage impacted children's care - HIQA

Staff vacancies have adversely impacted the care of children detained at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus according to the Health Information and Quality Authority.

Ireland • 21 Feb 24

Families have been protesting outside Cherry Orchard Hospital since early November

Families fight to keep residents in HSE nursing home

Families of residents living in a nursing home in Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin, have reiterated calls on the HSE not to move their loved ones to a private nursing home facility in Clondalkin.

Dublin • 27 Feb 24

Nursing home providers cited a number of reasons for the closures, such as concerns about financial viability and staff burnout (File image)

50 nursing homes close over four-year period - HIQA

The number of nursing home closures have more than doubled nationwide over a four year period, according to the Health Information and Quality Authority.

Ireland • 14 Dec 23

There were 119 residents at the facility on the day that the unannounced inspection took place (Stock image)

Nursing home residents not consulted on care needs

A HIQA inspection of a private nursing home in June discovered institutionalised practices at the facility, rather than a person-centred approach.

Ireland • 16 Oct 23

HIQA said a number of EDs are failing to meet national standards for safer better care

Some EDs 'failing to meet safer better care standards'

A number of hospital emergency departments are failing to meet the requirements of the national standards for safer better care, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Ireland • 04 Oct 23

HIQA has warned that 'escalatory action' will be taken if there is failure to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents at centres run by Ability West

'Persistent poor findings' at Ability West centres

The Health Information and Quality Authority has expressed concern over 'persistent poor findings' at a number of centres for people with disabilities in Galway.

HIQA • 08 Aug 23

Health Information and Quality Authority found deficits in the monitoring and oversight of children on the system (stock image)

Delays in allocating social workers to children - HIQA

A HIQA inspection of child protection and welfare services in Louth and Meath has found that three out of 29 children on the Child Protection Notification System did not have an allocated social worker for extended periods.

Ireland • 02 Aug 23

Natalie Kilbane and her daughter Lara, 12, who has Long Covid

Mother says Long Covid has had 'devastating impact'

A Dublin mother has said Long Covid has had a devastating impact on her 12-year-old daughter.

Coronavirus • 27 Jul 23

The service responds to the needs of unaccompanied children who arrive in Ireland (stock image)

Report finds shortfalls in separated children service

HIQA published its report into Tusla's Separated Children Seeking International Protection service, which found all the ten standards assessed as non-compliant.

Ireland • 26 Jul 23

HIQA found 'a chronic shortfall' in staffing resources to meet demand after the inspection of a service (stock image)

At-risk children left on waiting list for months - HIQA

A HIQA inspection of a child protection and welfare service has found that children who alleged abuse, inappropriate contact and sexual assault were left on waiting lists for months.

Ireland • 26 Jul 23