Inspections

The Health Information and Quality Authority is responsible for the registration and inspection of all public, private and voluntary nursing homes and residential care services for older people.

We register and inspect nursing homes to make sure they are safe and that residents are being cared for properly. For the first time, HSE-run centres, as well as private and voluntary nursing homes, are now subject to independent registration and inspection.

Inspectors use the standards and the legislation to check that residents in nursing homes are safe and well looked after. Inspections provide information to residents, their families and the general public about the standards of care in individual nursing homes. The aim of inspection is to make sure that poor services are not allowed to operate and to support those nursing homes that provide good, person-centred care.

We inspect residential services on an ongoing basis and will re-register each centre every three years. The inspections are a mixture of both announced and unannounced visits, which could happen by day and also in the evenings, at weekends and at night.

Inspectors will talk with managers, staff and interested people and they will also talk with residents (residents who do not wish to speak to inspectors do not have to) and their families. Inspectors will focus on the experience of the resident living in the nursing home and what it is like to live there. An inspection report will be produced by the Authority after each inspection.

Inspection reports give factual information and highlight where standards of care are well met, as well as where improvements are required. They give the residential care centre’s location, and outline the number of places there and general facilities. They also outline the findings of the inspection and will comment on all areas of the service. Any necessary actions required on the part of the provider will be clearly indicated in the report. The reports are fair and reflect all aspects of the service that is being provided.

Find more information on our standards, frequently asked questions or find a nursing home. Nursing home providers should see our section – information for providers for further information on the inspection process.