大象传媒

Just what is going on with the watchdog which oversees NI's care homes? A mass resignation by the board of the RQIA "could not have come at a worst time". That's the view of the commissioner for older people Eddie Lynch. Nine RQIA board members resigned over claims they were not consulted on key decisions taken during the coronavirus pandemic. Eddie Lynch said it was a "very worrying development". The board members said they were not consulted on a number of decisions taken in their name by the Department of Health, including reducing the number of care home inspections and redeploying senior members of staff, including their chief executive Olive Macleod. The Department of Health says the decision to reduce inspections at care homes was an attempt to reduce the number of infections. Stephen spoke to Commissioner for Older People, Eddie Lynch, Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw and SDLP councillor Brian Heading.