Aperee Living nursing homes referred to gardaí over financial and fire concerns
Gardaí Picture: Home Cork Aperee Been Co In Belgooly, Living, 68 Has Bed The Nursing Creedon David A Referred To
Health sector watchdog Hiqa has referred a number of Aperee Living nursing homes to An Garda Síochána after identifying financial and fire safety concerns in inspection reports.
Inspectors found financial irregularities in six homes, including some cases where residents' money was used to run nursing homes, or of money not returned to families of deceased residents.
They also found “significant high risks” in relation to fire safety in a number of homes.
Aperee Living Ballygunner in Waterford had its registration cancelled last month while the HSE is now supporting residents at Aperee Living Belgooly in Cork, which faces closure this month.
A spokeswoman for An Garda Síochána said: “An Garda Síochána has received a referral from Hiqa in relation to a number of nursing homes.
“An Garda Síochána is currently carrying out an assessment of the matters in the referral to determine whether an investigation is required. A criminal investigation has not commenced at this time.”
Speaking at the Oireachtas Health Committee on Wednesday, Hiqa chief inspector for social services Carol Grogan was questioned on Aperee Living.
Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd named the nursing home group when referring to Hiqa inspection reports and said: “I think the guards should be notified about this.”
Ms Grogan responded: “I have notified, I have referred to the guards.”
It was also highlighted that there is just one director for Aperee Living, which has 10 homes.
Company records show this is David O’Shea with an address in Midleton, Co Cork, and note the resignations of two other directors last year.
It was recently reported that former chief executive Henry Burrows resigned due to reservations about the “financial integrity" of the businesses.
During its inspections, Hiqa queried the management of residents’ pensions at Aperee Living Belgooly,
It also said “significant high-risk” fire safety issues were identified in March but had not been addressed by May.
The Belgooly provider has until October 25 to notify Hiqa if it wishes to appeal the cancellation of the nursing home's registration.
This appeal would be heard in the district court.
At Aperee Living Ballygunner, Hiqa found: “Residents' monies were used on a number of occasions to pay the ongoing costs of running the centre."
Regarding potential financial irregularities, a spokeswoman for Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler said Hiqa will use all powers available to it to investigate.
“The chief inspector is fully supported by both the minister of health and minister Butler, who will provide the necessary resources and supports,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Aperee Living said on Friday: "Aperee Living continues to cooperate with Hiqa. All of our policies are fully up to date and residents' finances are fully protected."