Department lifts RQIA Covid-19 restrictions but McGrath says he will raise question with the Health Minister at Assembly Question Time.
The Department of Health has today lifted restrictions that were placed on the work of the RQIA because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, South Down MLA Colin McGrath has expressed his concerns about the departmental move and tabled questions to the Health Minister at the Assembly Question Time.
A Department of Health spokesperson said in a statement: “The RQIA, Northern Ireland’s health and social care regulator, was directed by the Department in March to reduce the frequency of its statutory inspection activity and cease its non-statutory inspection activity and review programme.
“This temporary measure was introduced to minimise the risk of health and social care professionals and other visitors spreading infection within care homes.
“Similar restrictions were introduced in GB and the Republic of Ireland.
“With community transmission of Covid-19 now significantly reduced, the Department has been able to rescind the March direction.
“With the rebuilding of health and social care services under way following the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the RQIA will be able to increase its activity across all areas of work.
“It is important that this increased activity remains as safe and as flexible as possible. Returning to pre-pandemic inspection levels will not be immediately possible.”
Whilst RQIA’s planned inspection programme was temporarily paused, RQIA’s inspectors – including registered nurses, social workers and pharmacists – continued to regulate services and respond to risks and concerns.”
The spokesperson said that it reports that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, it conducted around 40 on-site inspections at care homes and domiciliary care services. It has also taken enforcement action against five services during this time.
In recognition of the threat from Coronavirus to older and vulnerable people, the Department of Health also ‘re-purposed’ RQIA from March to provide enhanced support to care homes and domiciliary care services.
In response, the regulator established a Service Support Team. This has involved RQIA inspectors and senior staff providing detailed advice and direction to care homes and domiciliary care services in managing their services during the pandemic period.
McGrath seeks answers on RQIA capacity to protect our most vulnerable.
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has submitted an Urgent Oral Question to get an assessment from the Health Minister on the capacity of the RQIA to fulfil its statutory role, given the entire Board have resigned in recent days.
The South Down MLA said: “We are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. It is disproportionately impacting our care home sector, our cherished and vulnerable people. There has never been a more critical time for the level of care to be sustained and maintained, as it always is in many of our care homes.
“However, should things go wrong we must have the faith that the RQIA stands ready to intervene and help support care homes that are struggling. This is a vital assurance for residents and families.
“I am concerned that the RQIA can fulfil this statutory duty given the significant change at all levels of its leadership in the short period of time in the past few months. The Chief Executive has changed and now the Interim chair has been removed. I note that the Board, of Non-Executive Directors, have also resigned.
“It is increasingly obvious that there is a fracture between the relationship of the Department and the RQIA Board. This might impact upon the work and role of the Agency and it is important we have assurances about the standards of care.
“I have laid an urgent oral question with the Speaker in the Assembly and hope it will be accepted tomorrow and the Minister for Health can come to the house and answer the queries, questions and concerns that MLAs have about the RQIA.
“This will be done in a spirit to strengthen and protect the work of the Agency at time when our older people need this support most,” said Mr McGrath.
