Some 100 submissions from members of the public and other interested parties have been lodged in response to a request for views on draft quality standards for nursing homes. A working group will meet later this month to consider the submissions.
It had been hoped that the new regulations governing public and private nursing homes would be in place before the end of the year but it now seems likely that nursing home inspections under the new regime will not commence until next year.
The standards are being prepared by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) and were called for after concerns arose about the care of patients in nursing homes such as Leas Cross.
That home in north Dublin closed in July 2005 following an undercover RTÉ investigation. Hidden cameras showing the treatment of patients caused a public outcry.
Last April, Minister for Health Mary Harney commissioned an investigation into the management, operation and supervision of the home. It is due to report its findings next April.
The 100 submissions on the proposed standards were lodged by relatives of nursing home residents, healthcare staff, agencies representing the elderly and other interested parties.
The 32 draft quality standards set out the rights of residents in nursing homes and include issues such as their right to high quality, safe and respectful care.
Proposed standards cover areas such as medication management, end of life care, a complaints systems and recruitment and training.
Age Action Ireland welcomed the draft standards and said the introduction of 200 independent inspectors to police the new regulations in public, private and voluntary care services would make "a huge difference". Under the current regime, only private nursing homes are inspected.
However, Age Action Ireland expressed concern at the standard on staffing levels, describing it as "extremely vague".
The draft standards say that there must be "appropriately skilled and qualified staff, sufficient to ensure that services are delivered in accordance with these standards and the needs of the residents".
Age Action's chief executive sits on the 34-person working group which is reviewing the standards.
The working group is expected to finalise the standards in the coming weeks and Hiqa will then work with the Department of Health to develop the new regulations.
The Social Services Inspectorate, which inspects children's homes, will be responsible for inspecting nursing homes to ensure they are meeting the new standards.
