HIQA says the pandemic has further highlighted the need for regulatory reform.
The health regulator has been calling for more reforms and powers within its remit since 2017.
It's after HIQA revealed there was an 85% rate of substantial compliance in nursing homes in 2020 and 2021, based on nearly 950 inspections carried out in both years.
Deputy Chief Inspector with HIQA, Susan Cliffe, says these are needed so the regulator can provider greater oversight:
"The enforcement mechanism available to the Chief Inspector could also be reformed and maybe have something that's between the lower order powers and the nuclear option that I spoke about already so that we would have stronger powers to require providers to take rapid action to address an issue."
