CHAS College Principal Chairs the newly established COVID-19 Nursing Home Panel

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris announced recently that there would be a COVID-19 Nursing Home Expert Panel established.

This expert panel will examine both national and international measures in response to COVID-19. It will also look  emerging best practice to ensure all COVID-19 response measures are prepared for. This is in light of the expected ongoing COVID-19 risk and impact for nursing homes over the next 6-18 months.

The Panel will report to the Minister by the end of June 2020.

Making the announcement, Minister Harris said "Throughout the response to the pandemic there has been particular focus on the challenges in the nursing home sector and it has been and remains an absolute priority for me in the overall response to COVID-19". 

He also stated “I want to sincerely thank the experts for their willingness to undertake this important task and I look forward to working closely with them in the weeks ahead”.

The panel will be chaired by the CHAS College Principal, (opens in a new window)Professor Cecily Kelleher. Professor Kelleher will be joined by Professor Cillian Twomey (Retired Geriatrician), Petrina Donnelly, Group Director of Nursing, RCSI Hospital Group, and Bridget Doherty who will represent public interest.

It is expected that the Expert Panel will commence its scoping work early next week.