We continue to monitor COVID-19 and infection control in nursing homes, and have seen an increase in applications to change or remove restrictive conditions of registration.
Ongoing monitoring
Over Christmas week, the number of nursing homes experiencing outbreaks increased at a faster rate than at any other time during the pandemic, mirroring infection rates in the community. Within a two-week period, the numbers of staff testing positive for COVID-19 significantly increased. While the numbers of residents testing positive did not rise as quickly, over a period of four weeks they did increase incrementally. Thankfully, most centres were able to put their emergency COVID-19 plans into place and manage the outbreaks, and the number of outbreaks is reducing again. For a small number of nursing homes, the numbers of staff testing positive, or becoming close contacts, put severe pressure on the operation of the service. We continue to link in with the nursing home providers, the HSE and public health to ensure residents remain safe.
At the beginning of January, the Chief Inspector of Social Services, Carol Grogan, issued a regulatory notice to nursing home providers reminding them of infection prevention and control vigilance. The importance of implementing current guidance relating to the prevention and management of COVID-19 in nursing homes was reiterated.
Inspectors continue to focus on infection prevention and control on all inspections, either as part of a wider inspection, or as a ‘single regulation inspection’. Key issues identified on these inspections include:
- inadequate housekeeping provision and procedures.
- poor understanding of disinfection chemicals and procedures for cleaning and decontamination.
- incorrect wearing of, or donning and doffing of, personal protective equipment (PPE).
- poor and inadequate storage within the designated centres.
We are also carrying out inspections to specifically look at fire safety and premises issues.
Applications to remove or vary conditions of registration
We have seen a significant increase in the number of applications received from providers to vary (change) or remove restrictive conditions of registration. This is partly due to changes to Regulation 17: Premises which came into effect on 1 January 2022.
This extension gave nursing home providers additional time to ensure that the physical environment of their nursing home complied with relevant regulations (Statutory Instrument [SI] 293).
When submitting an application to vary or remove a condition, providers are asked to be aware that one condition may impact on another condition. Providers should review all conditions attached to their registration and check if these conditions may also need to be altered.
Please see guidance below:
| If you have built an extension, and have added 20 new beds to the service. | You will need to vary the following conditions:
· 1, in relation to the statement of purpose and the floor plans · 3, in relation to the numbers of residents that can be accommodated. In addition: · assurance that fire safety works have been completed and signed off should be ready for review · the floor plans should have room size, bed numbers and or dimensions which are accurate and aligned with the statement of purpose. |
| If you had a condition applied to the registration to renovate or replace premises to meet the requirements of statutory instrument SI 293, which
came into effect on 1 January 2022. |
You will need to vary the following conditions:
· 1, in relation to the statement of purpose and the floor plans (if the premises have changed) · 3, in relation to the numbers of residents that can be accommodated (if the number of residents you can accommodate has changed) · Specific condition – often condition 4. |