Nursing homes cutting corners to increase profits
– Profit-before-people philosophy leading to serious problems
Reacting to the HSE’s decision to suspend admissions in five nursing homes in counties Dublin and Wicklow, the Green Party today said that many nursing homes were cutting corners in order to increase profits. Party Health spokesperson John Gormley TD raised the issue in the Dáil today, and called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney to explain what she knew about the state of Ireland’s nursing homes. He also insisted that a robust and independent inspection system be set up without delay.
Deputy Gormley said: “The Taoiseach yesterday attempted to downplay the serious problems in nursing homes. But the reality is that many TDs continue to hear horror stories about the state of our nursing homes. Nursing homes have now become a business for people who would not normally be in the caring professions. Their aim is to make a profit and they are quite prepared to cut corners in order to do so. This is, of course, in keeping with the Fianna Fail/PD philosophy that greed is good. They have engendered a profit-before-people philosophy and we’re now witnessing the terrible consequences. Patient care and safety must always come first.
“There must also be a greater level of transparency and accountability. Inspections should be robust and fully independent. Those found to be negligent must be awarded serious penalties. There is an onus on the HSE to put all of their inspection reports on the internet.
“Some nursing homes have been guilty of serious of the elderly, yet the Government does not appear to have grasped the gravity of the situation,” concluded Deputy Gormley.