Calls for public inquiry after entire board of carehome watchdog resigns - Covid-19 outbreaks still live in up to 66 facilities

As of tonight health authorities are still fighting outbreaks in up to 66 care homes across NI, 47 of them confirmed.

Figures released on Friday showed that a hugely disproportionate percentage of Covid-19 related deaths in NI - over 50% - have been of care home residents - 412 of the 802 total deaths.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) monitors the quality of health and social care services in NI, including carrying out care home inspections, while its board holds the regulator’s management to account.

Tonight the former board members complained to the BBC that a number of decisions were made without any input from them which they “couldn’t stand over”.

These included the reduction in care home inspections, redeploying RQIA staff including CEO Olive Macleod to other agencies and the decision to make RQIA inspectors work in other roles within care homes.

QUB Prof Phil Scraton, who had been issuing warnings on the matter, said: “In these unprecedented circumstances there has to be a thorough independent review of the whole procedure”.

The BBC reported that the resignations were triggered after the interim chair of the RQIA board, Mary McColgan, raised concerns.

Ms McColgan was later asked by the DoH to step aside as interim chair, but remain on the board in a non-executive role, the BBC said. According to board members, this move triggered the mass resignation as they “had full confidence” in Ms McColgan.

Prof Phil Scraton from QUB said it was “unprecedented” for an entire board to resign.

He said he and others had been publicly warning the DoH about the risks when a reduction was ordered in care home inspections. RQIA reports had warned of the lack of infection control ahead of Covid-19, he noted.

There were three “absolute clear failures”, he told the BBC;- The failure to conduct immediate and appropriate inspections, the failure to respond to managers’ public appeals - “one was crying on television” - and the failure to prioritise testing of residents and staff “which has continued to this day”.

Health Minister Robin Swann responded that the resignations were “a matter of regret”.

He added: “These board positions are by Ministerial appointment, yet it is disappointing that none of those resigning made any contact with me beforehand about any concerns.

“I fully appreciate that this has been an extremely challenging period for everyone across the Health and Social Care System. I believe the reasons cited for the resignations could have been addressed to the satisfaction of all concerned and I would place on record my thanks for their service.”

The Alliance Party, SDLP and Sinn Fein all raised extensive questions about the situation tonight.

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