New Standards For Ireland's Nursing Homes!
Updated : Mar 10, 2009
Every nursing homes in Ireland will be required under law to meet 32 new standards from the first of July. The new inspection system was announced yesterday by the Minister for Health, Mary Harney. People in the homes will have a right to a written contract of care, privacy and dignity and to be cared for in a safe, hygienic facility.
With the new laws, all nursing homes will have to be registered and pay €500 for this every 3 years. To help pay for the full inspection system, all nursing homes will also have to pay a charge of €190 a year for each patient.
Nursing Homes Ireland said that for an average 50-bed nursing home, the new annual licensing fee of €190 a bed would mean an extra cost of almost €10,000 a year.
Mary Harney said†I accept that the fees will be passed on to residents." Nursing Homes Ireland says the new charges are being introduced without consultation.
It says it would like a meeting with the Minister to discuss the changes. The charges will also cost the HSE an extra €1.9m a year for its public nursing homes. The inspections will be operated by the social services division of the Health Information and Quality Authority.
The Authority will have the power to close a nursing home that do not meet to the strict new standards.
VeryHappyPig says we all should do our bit for the people who looked after us for years...