HIQA investigates more complaints of ‘inappropriate admissions’

Minister Mary Harney

HIQA has been made aware of two instances in relation to possible inappropriate admissions to acute hospitals by nursing homes. Both of these were received from the hospitals in question and arae being looked into by the Authority.

Minster for Health Mary Harney had asked outgoing HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm to notify HIQA of any concerns hospitals may have about inappropriate admission or referral trends from particular nursing homes.

In April, Minister Harney said there was evidence of trends emerging that were causing her concern. “One of the most serious of these is the allegation that some nursing homes are, unnecessarily, sending residents to the acute hospitals in order to free up beds for a period to save money, or with a view to taking in patients who have less dependency requirements, or to avoid the patient dying in their homes.”

The Minister has warned that breaches of regulations or standards by nursing homes would be treated with “the utmost seriousness”.
She has asked her officials to identify legislative options that would help deal with such situations.