Limited HIQA power raises questions over private nursing home fees

HIQA has clarified its limited authority over extra charges imposed on residents at The Residence Portlaoise, a private nursing home under scrutiny for billing families for essentials like medication, dressings, physiotherapy, and incontinence wear. Despite €1,200 monthly rents, residents face additional costs including €15 per week for fall sensors and €140 taxi trips to hospital. While HIQA inspects whether fees infringe residents’ rights or breach care contracts, it cannot regulate amounts charged. Recent inspections found major regulatory failings, yet admissions were only halted two months later. This raises critical questions for private healthcare leaders about transparency, duty of care, and reputational risk in fee structures, as public scrutiny grows alongside calls for stronger oversight.

Read the full article to explore what this means for your care operations and compliance strategy.