Interim report of COVID-19 Nursing Home Expert Panel published

The purpose of the Panel was so as to examine the national and international responses to the COVID-19 crisis, and to examine the emerging best practice going forward.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD has published the interim report of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel.

The Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established on the recommendation of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

The purpose of the Panel was so as to examine the national and international responses to the COVID-19 crisis, and to examine the emerging best practice going forward.

The interim report says that to date, the panel has convened six core business meetings, 12 stakeholder engagement meetings with a total of 21 representative organisations or other bodies.

It says that the necessary data and evidence gathering are now at an advanced stage of completion and extensive stakeholder engagement process is also close to finalisation.

Arrangements have also been made to engage with a number of residents/relatives in the week ahead to share their thoughts and experiences.

Minister Donnelly said: “The interim report is important in setting out how the Panel will achieve that and I am pleased to publish it today. I look forward to receiving the Panel’s final report and publishing it in due course.”

Minister for Minister Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler TD meanwhile added: “The interim Report published today clearly demonstrates the scale of the Panel’s work, the wide range of stakeholders consulted, and the progress to date.

“COVID-19 has hugely impacted on the nursing home sector and my priority as Minister is to ensure that the measures required to protect frail older people in residential settings are in place.”