RQIA chief denies ‘leaving’ residents in failing nursing home for two months

Last month, the Department of Health moved to relocate residents from Clifton Nursing Home in north Belfast following a series of failed inspections by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).

It has now been revealed that the Belfast Trust is launching a review into infection control failings at the scandal-hit nursing home.

A deal was reached between the home’s operators, a company known as Runwood Homes, and another firm known as Healthcare Ireland that means residents won’t be forced from their homes.

The agreement means Healthcare Ireland assumes management of the home for an “interim” period.

The Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster reports that the Belfast Trust is now initiating a level three Serious Adverse Incident Review.

The move to close the home was announced on May 22 and followed an inspection by the RQIA the previous day.

Enforcement Action had been taken by the health regulator on May 20, following an earlier inspection on May 15.

The two inspections in May followed a series of earlier inspections of Clifton Nursing Home dating back to 2019.

Before carrying out those inspections in May, an unannounced inspection in March had also identified problems with inspection control.

RQIA chief executive Dermot Parsons, speaking on the Nolan Show, denied having left vulnerable residents in the home for two months without taking action.

“We have not left people anywhere for two months,” Mr Parsons said. “During that time there was guidance given from the Chief Medical Officer about us continuing inspections in circumstances of highest risk.

“It was also a situation where a large amount of guidance was issued during March and April to the centre to prepare for this coronavirus that the sector was completely unprepared for.

“We have responsibility for improving quality and looking at safety across what’s currently 475 active care homes across Northern Ireland.

“The decision was made, with the Department, that we should repurpose ourselves as a support resource to services across Northern Ireland.”