Former governing board of care home watchdog 'entirely undermined'

By Michael McHugh and Rebecca Black, PA

Stormont's health department "entirely undermined" the former governing board of the watchdog which inspects care homes, ex-members claimed.

Nine members resigned over claims they were not consulted on key decisions taken during the coronavirus pandemic.

They said Robin Swann's department took critical actions without any input from them and diluted their independence.

They added: "As the responsibility for decision making remained with the board of Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) this created a lack of clarity in terms of responsibility and accountability which placed the Board in a very difficult position.

"It is our view that this entirely undermined the governance role of the Board who remained corporately liable and accountable for those decisions."

Health minister orders independent review after mass resignations at care homes watchdog https://t.co/gT68MdUYXW

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Grievances listed by the ex-board members included:

- A departmental directive to reduce the minimum frequency of inspections in care homes as part of the response to Covid 19;

- Repurposing the RQIA into a single point of contact and support for providers;

- Redeploying at a critical point in time a number of RQIA's executive and senior team, including the chief executive, resulting in a "significant loss" of experience;

- Directing RQIA to make inspection staff available to work in the care home sector.

The former members added: "In the Board's view these decisions diluted the RQIA's independence and critical function as a regulator to maintain the protection of vulnerable adults in residential and nursing homes during the Covid-19 crisis."

Mr Swann has ordered an independent review of the inspectorate and wants to see greater patient involvement in its work.

David Nicholl, of On Board training, will undertake the review.

Mr Swann said his department "took decisions at pace in the teeth of a full-scale emergency".

"Similar decisions were taken in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland and there were reasons for those decisions," he said.

"Whilst the resignations are regrettable, I am confident that they will have no impact on the day-to-day work of the RQIA.

"I continue to have total confidence in the staff that work within that organisation."

The minister said "within hours" of the resignations, he moved to appoint Christine Collins as the interim chair and expressed confidence she will further strengthen the voice of people who use the health and social care system.

He added: "There is an expectation that those inspections should look at more than they do.

"It is crucial that on the appointment of the next Board, that we make sure there are people on the Board that have the lived experience and that there is patient input as well."