Fourteen nursing homes were today among the first to be awarded a new standard for the care they offer.
The National Quality of Care for Nursing Homes standard was developed by the Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA) with the Irish Nursing Home Organisations (INHO), the Irish Society for Quality & Safety in Healthcare and BUPA Ireland.
The nursing homes awarded with the standard by Minister for Health Mary Harney in Dublin today were Abbeybreaffy Nursing Home in Castlebar; Belmont Care Nursing Home in Stillorgan; Bishopscourt Residential Care Ltd in Waterford; Boyne Valley Nursing Home in Drogheda; Bridhaven Nursing Home in Mallow, Cahercalla Community Hospital in Ennis; Cedar House Nursing Home, Mount Anville in Dublin; Cuil Didin Residential & Nursing Care in Tralee; Esker Lodge Nursing Home in Cavan; Fairfield Nursing Home in Cork; Holy Family Nursing Home in Ballinasloe; Kylemore House Nursing Home in Bray; Montenotte Care Centre in Cork; and St Attracta's Nursing Home in Charlestown.
Under the EIQA standard the nursing homes were assessed in four areas; organisational commitment, employee engagement, support systems and processes and quality of life. Nursing home residents were also interviewed for their opinions and feedback on their quality of care.
Managing Director of the EIQA Paul O'Grady said: "EIQA's aim is to have all public and private nursing homes participate in the programme and to publish our findings to assist the general public in their selection of an appropriate nursing home for a family member."
Chief Executive of INHO Tadhg Daly said he was convinced the EIQA standard would "shape the strategic direction of standards in the industry, over the coming years".
However, Fine Gael's Liam Twomey criticised Ms Harney for not implementing a previous set of standards drawn up by Government.
"It must be asked why the Tánaiste is lending her name to and effectively endorsing an entirely seperate set of standards prepared by a private company when she had already spent public funds to develop standards which she has not implemented", Dr Twomey said.
"A publicly set of standards designed by a public body, the Government established Irish Health Services Accreditation Board (IHSAB), has been gathering dust since November 2005," he added.
Ms Harney said her department had established a working group including members of the IHSAB to develop standards for both public and private residential care for older people.
Ms Harney added that a draft document is nearing completion and would be circulated in the summer.
