Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 20 inspection reports on residential centres for older people. The Chief Inspector has statutory responsibility for independently regulating designated centres for older people for compliance with the Health Act (2007) Regulations and the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland (2016), to ensure that the people living in these services are safe and well cared for.

Of the 20 reports published today, inspectors found evidence of good practice and compliance with the regulations and standards in 11 centres. These inspections found that, generally, residents’ needs were being met and care was being delivered in line with the National Standards and regulations.

However, evidence of non-compliance was found in nine centres. In these centres, residents’ needs were not always being met in line with the regulations and standards. Inspectors identified non-compliances in areas such as governance and management; healthcare needs; premises; residents’ rights; personal possessions; training and staff development; and written policies and procedures.