More healthcare inspections must take place out of hours, says INMO

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has welcomed HIQA’s commitment to increasing out-of-hours inspections of healthcare facilities and called on the Health and Safety Authority to follow suit.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:

“The INMO welcomes the announcement from HIQA that they will be increasing the number of out-of-hours inspections.

The Health and Safety Authority must follow suit when it comes to inspecting conditions in healthcare facilities.

“The provision of care by our members is not a 9-5 endeavour. Nurses and midwives provide around the clock care.

“Our members report that public long-term care facilities are admitting patients with very high acuity.

“The staffing in these units are not sufficient to provide the safe or in many instances timely care people need or deserve.

“In long-term care, there is constant pressure from acute care hospitals to accept patients due to hospital overcrowding.

“To meet this demand safely, long-term care facilities must be properly equipped and adequately staffed.

“Respite care, which is a vital support for families, is a key component of long-term care, yet it often cannot be guaranteed due to insufficient staffing levels.

“The fact that the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill, which could extend the powers of HIQA, was not brought forward in the Dáil before the summer recess, was a missed opportunity. The Minister for Health must make this piece of legislation a priority when the Dáil resumes.

“Report upon report from HIQA states that patients have very positive experiences with our members but our members are being asked to do the impossible in conditions that are totally out of their control.

“We need HIQA to have stronger enforcement powers on the recommendations they make when they inspect hospitals.”