Regulatory Changes for Nursing Homes: Key Updates from HIQA

March 31, 2025

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has welcomed changes to the regulations that will support nursing home residents and ensure better governance in nursing homes which take effect on 31 March 2025. 

The new regulations focus on a number of areas such as governance and management, residents’ rights, risk management, infection control and shorter timelines for nursing homes to notify HIQA of key events to improve the safety and welfare of residents. 

Regulation Updates:

Regulation 11 – Visiting: Nursing homes must now provide specific details on visiting arrangements, both under normal conditions and during restrictions. The guidelines also outline how residents can receive designated visitors when restrictions are in place.

Regulation 14 – Person in Charge (PIC): New rules specify clear deputisation processes for the PIC role, including minimum experience criteria for deputies. Additionally, the PIC's responsibilities will now be limited to a maximum of two designated centres. From March 31, 2025, newly appointed PICs must meet updated experience and education requirements.

Regulation 20 – Resident Information: The Resident’s Guide must now include instructions on how to access the designated centre’s inspection reports.

Regulation 23 – Governance and Management: The requirements for management deputisation have been clarified, and a mandatory quality improvement plan must be developed based on findings from the annual review of care quality and safety.

Regulation 26 – Risk Management: The risk management policy must now detail measures in place to control infectious diseases. There must also be a structured process for implementing recommendations following serious incidents and adverse events, along with provisions for auditing, reviewing, and learning from such occurrences.

Regulation 27 – Infection Control: Nursing homes are required to implement infection prevention and outbreak management guidelines issued by national authorities. Staff must also receive appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) training.

Regulation 31 – Incident Reporting & Schedule 4 Notifications: The timeline for reporting incidents has been shortened from three working days to two. Additionally, quarterly reports must now include details on restrictive practices, specifying the type used and the number of residents affected.

Regulation 32 – Notification of Absence: The required notification period for a PIC’s continued absence has been extended from 28 days to 42 days.

Regulation 33 – Absence Procedures for PICs: This regulation outlines the communication requirements when a PIC is absent for more than six months.

Schedule 5 – Policies and Procedures: A formal visitor policy is now a required document for all designated centres.

These regulatory changes enhance clarity and accountability, ensuring better oversight and improved care standards across nursing homes.

For further details, visit HIQA’s official update: HIQA News.