3537. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health her views on the need to ensure an independent body is available to receive complaints in respect of individual cases of mistreatment of users in nursing homes, hospices and care facilities; her views on the need for effective oversight beyond the policies and procedures already in place between the HSE, facilities, internal policies, the Ombudsman and HIQA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61710/26]

The protection, welfare and rights of people living in nursing homes and other designated care settings are of paramount importance. The Department considers it important that individuals have access to independent mechanisms through which concerns regarding care and treatment can be raised and examined, and notes that a number of independent oversight and complaints bodies already form part of the current framework. These include, for example, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Office of the Ombudsman and the Patient Advocacy Service, each of which has a distinct role in relation to oversight, complaints or advocacy.

Under the regulations, nursing home providers must have effective procedures in place to ensure that complaints are properly investigated and responded to appropriately. Residents of nursing homes and their families should in the first place use the complaints processes operated by individual providers and, where relevant, by the HSE. The Patient Advocacy Service is funded to assist / support residents of nursing homes to make a complaint.

In addition, the Office of the Ombudsman provides an independent avenue of complaint in respect of matters falling within its remit, including complaints relating to the HSE, and public, voluntary and private nursing home services.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is responsible for the registration and inspection of designated centres for older people and monitors compliance with the relevant regulations and standards. HIQA also receives information and concerns from members of the public, which may inform its regulatory activity.

The Government and the Department are committed to maintaining robust regulatory and oversight arrangements for residential care services. This includes ongoing engagement with HIQA, the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure that residents are protected, high-quality care is promoted, and effective avenues exist for raising concerns and complaints. The effectiveness of these arrangements will continue to be kept under review as part of wider work to strengthen accountability and protections for residents of designated centres for older people.