Leas Cross Commission established

The Government has announced it is to set up a commission of investigation to examine the running of Leas Cross Nursing Home.

The north Dublin nursing home was shut down in July 2005 following an undercover RTÉ investigation. Secret cameras showing the treatment of patients caused a public outcry, and the Dáil heard calls for strict regulation of the sector.

The new commission, which will be chaired by Mr Derry O'Donovan, SC, is charged with examining the role and responses of relevant parties in the nursing home. It is also expected to investigate complaints made by, or on behalf of, residents of the home.

A report is expected to be delivered to Minister for Health Mary Harney in 12 months.

The Leas Cross report by consultant geriatrician Prof Des O'Neill, which was published by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in November 2006,

concluded that care at the nursing home was deficient at many levels and consistent with a finding of institutional abuse.

Yesterday, a new study commissioned by Age Action highlighted fears of a repeat of the Leas Cross scandal.

The report found standards here lag far behind other developed countries with the cost of care €400 a week below what it should be. It warned the financial shortfall was being met through a drop in care.

Fine Gael has welcomed the establishment of a Commission of Investigation although Front Bench Spokesperson, Fergus O'Dowd TD, said that the establishment of the Commission "was long overdue."

"The public outrage and concern which resulted from the treatment of elderly people exposed on the Primetime programme seems to have finally filtered through to the Government. It is a great shame that it has taken two years to reach this point and that Government moves to protect elderly patients in long term care has been painfully slow," said O'Dowd.

"I welcome the establishment of the Commission and hope that its report may lead to positive progress on setting and monitoring standards of care in nursing homes. I am disappointed, however, that the terms of reference do not extend to all patients transferred from St Ita's in Portrane to long-term care and I am calling on the Minister to extend the terms of reference accordingly," he concluded.