Michael McHale , 2025-05-20 07:31:00
NHI seeks meeting with Health Minister to discuss concerns as it holds AGM today
A new updated programme for the implementation of Slaintecare ‘offers no vision for the long-term residential care that so many will require,’ the head of Nursing Homes Ireland has said.
NHI CEO Tadhg Daly said the Sláintecare 2025+ plan, announced last week by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, fails to appropriately address the future of nursing home care.
NHI CEO Tadhg Daly
He also pointed to the Government’s failure to publish and implement a review of pricing of the ‘Fair Deal’ nursing home support scheme as an issue critical to the future of long-term residential care.
“Sláintecare’s promise of the right care, in the right place, at the right time must acknowledge that, for thousands of older people, a nursing home is the right place,” said Mr Daly.
“While the focus on supporting people to live at home is clear in the foundations of Sláintecare, it must be matched with equal attention to the sustainability of nursing home care.
“This latest update offers no vision for the long-term residential care that so many will require. Recognising the full continuum of care, including long-term residential care, is essential to meeting the needs of Ireland’s ageing population.”
Mr Daly was speaking ahead of the organisation’s annual conference which takes place today. The meeting will focus on the perceived marginalisation of residential care in the Government’s healthcare plans.
Of particular concern to the NHI is a significantly delayed policy paper on the future direction and financial sustainability of nursing home care.
The Sláintecare 2022 progress report, published in March 2023, noted that work had commenced on the paper, but the project had since been paused.
“Immediate sustainability concerns must be addressed as a priority therefore resources have been reallocated accordingly. Any measures to address nursing home closures and other reductions in capacity in the short term will involve consideration of impacts on long-term sustainability,” the report added.
NHI has written to Minister MacNeill to request a meeting to discuss their concerns.
“It is vital that Government fulfils its commitment to deliver the policy paper on the future direction and financial sustainability of nursing home care,” said Mr Daly.
“These omissions are not minor oversights. They reflect a lack of strategic planning for a sector that is central to supporting the complex care needs of Ireland’s ageing population. We need to celebrate our ageing demographic with more than aspirations; we need urgent, ambitious policy with fully resourced plans to ensure sustainability.
“Nursing home care in local communities nationwide is essential to achieving the Sláintecare ambition putting people at the centre of the health system and developing primary and community health services,” he added.
“Nursing homes are a vital pillar of Ireland’s healthcare system. For Sláintecare to succeed, nursing home care must be given the recognition and planning consideration required.”
In response, a Department of Health spokesperson said there is ‘ongoing engagement’ between it and NHI, but declined to say if Minister MacNeill would agree to meet with the group.
They also said that the Sláintecare+ 2025 includes a number of initiatives to ‘ensure the needs of an expanding older population are met’ and that a final report on the ‘Fair Deal’ pricing review is ‘at an advanced stage’.
“The plan commits to monitor the operation of the Nursing Home Support Scheme, to monitor sectoral compliance, to evaluate ownership structures in the sector, to deliver reform; to oversee performance and policy in relation to community beds and to strategically plan and support the capital requirements of future nursing home beds,” the spokesperson told IMT.
“Specific deliverables include the expansion of public residential care capacity by delivering 615 beds (additional and replacement) and to deliver a new €10m capital fund (Nursing Home Residential Premises Upgrade Scheme) to support nursing homes with HIQA premises compliance.
“Significant bodies of work are ongoing in relation to the strategic direction of older persons care, including long term residential care. These include the ESRI Capacity Review and the Commission on Care. The Capacity Review aims to project long term residential care bed capacity requirements nationally to 2040,” they added.
“The Commission on Care for Older People, which has received input from stakeholders including Nursing Homes Ireland, is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and with making recommendations to the Government for their strategic development.”
