HIQA consults public on new national standards

The State health watchdog has begun a nationwide public consultation on new Draft National Standards for nursing homes and residential or respite care centres for older persons, which represent a revision of the standards first published in 2009. Marie Kehoe-O’Sullivan, Director of Quality and Safety Improvement at HIQA, said nursing home care had moved on during this time. “We have also learned a lot from five years of inspecting these centres and the new standards reflect where significant improvements have been made but also where further attention is needed.” She said the new standards, which apply to all nursing homes, and…