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Special Committee

on

COVID-19 Response

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OPENING STATEMENT

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Mr. Paul Reid Chief Executive Officer

Thursday 18th June 2020

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Introduction

Good morning Chairman and members. Thank you for the invitation to meet with

the Special Committee on Covid-19. I am joined by my colleagues:

Dr. Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer,

Mr. David Walsh, National Director, Community Operations.

I wish to begin by taking the opportunity to again express my condolences to the

families and relatives of those deceased as a result of Covid-19 and in particular those

who were residents of nursing homes.

We have seen that the impact of Covid-19 was greatest in such settings. The

experience of the outbreak across these facilities, and the immediate responses put

in place by the HSE to support these services across public, private and voluntary was

unprecedented.

I have submitted a detailed paper to the committee which captures the substantitive

ongoing level of engagement across the system between theHSE, HIQA, DOH and the

private and voluntary nursing home representative group, Nursing Home Ireland

(NHI).

Within this paper I have set out the different mandates of the HSE and HIQA in

relation to this sector. However, we are united in the singular mandate of

safeguarding the health and well being of older persons living in long-term residential

care. Indeed, a significant feature of the response to this pandemic has been the

extent of the cooperation between HIQA, as the regulator, and the HSE. The

knowledge of the sector, acquired by HIQA over many years through their

inspectorate has been used on an ongoing basis to inform the actions and supports

provided by the HSE.

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The HSE Area Crisis Management Teams (ACMTs) which were formed with a specific

purpose of implementing the Covid Response in turn set up Covid Response Teams.

These enable the management of outbreaks of this insidious disease with absolute

equity across public, private and voluntary operated services. These teams of clinical

specialists provided a range of advice and support throughout the period, including

onsite assessments of resident’s needs. The HSE also had to provide additional

staffing, not only to its own facilities but also to private providers.

Public Health and other guidance was issued across a range of measures sometimes

on a daily basis. A full nationwide PPE logistical distribution system was formulated

and deployed to all providers within a very short timeframe and making, what was a

scarce commodity both here and internationally, available in a fair and equitable way

to support the demand in as far as possible.

Through the work of the ACMTs and the Covid Response Teams, it is fair to say that

tremendous work was undertaken in conjunction with staff of these residential

facilities preparing for and dealing with Covid-19 related issues. Over 80% of Long Stay

Care Facilities registered with HIQA are operated by private and voluntary providers.

However, the HSE’s local knowledge (supplemented by HIQA’s knowledge of the

sector) and the support they provided through the Response Teams, was critical

throughout the period concerned and has assisted greatly in ensuring that many of

these facilities are now functioning normally once again.

The HSE did not have the opportunity of a ‘Dress Rehearsal’ to plan for and manage

this crisis. COVID-19 is a Novel Virus. Information is contantly evolving on how it is

transmitted and how it presents in different age groups and how it can be present in

people without symptoms. As with any disease decisions are made at a point in time

based on the available evidence and knowledge.

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We were receiving international advice and learnings from other countries

simultaneously with our own experience of its spread across our population, and this

knowledge was changing on an ongoing basis throughout.

This committee has enquired in relation to the learning from the events of the last six

months so as to inform how we, as a nation, are prepared to address further

outbreaks of this or other diseases. I have addressed this in my submission and it is

clear that there is a requirement for very significant changes in relation to the models

of care that are used in this country to care for our most vulnerable older people.

These changes require a concerted effort across policy makers, regulators, providers

and clinical experts to achieve a safe and sustainable model of care into the future.

Significant areas for development include;

1. Assess the overall governance arrangements for Private Nursing Homes.

2. Further development of HSE support structures (Covid Response Teams).

3. Funding model for long term care and alternatives to longterm care.

In conclusion, I would like to pay tribute to all healthcare workers in residential care

settings, the staff who volunteered to support these services at critical stages and the

cooperation of the representative bodies who engaged positively with the HSE to

support the flexible deployment of staff of all grades and professions. I also wish to

pay tribute to the community and family volunteers who continue to provide a

bedrock of support to older people both at home and in care during these difficult

times.

While we currently have the virus under control it has not gone away and there is the

risk of a second wave as they Country further opens the economy and society.

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It is therefore vital that all of the public Health advice and guidance is followed by us

all so that we continue to do everything we possibly can to prevent the resurgence

and spread of this deadly virus.

That concludes my statement and we are happy to take any questions.

Thank you.

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