Increasing operational costs and the pressures on the Fair Deal scheme have resulted in the closure of at least 77 nursing homes since 2018

Eddie Lynch was giving evidence on the second day of the UK wide Covid-19 Inquiry sitting in Northern Ireland.

The HSE when it took over four months ago, did reassure residents and families that the home would remain open.

Prof. O’Neill said the Department of Health ignored the issue “for a long time”

Two-thirds of all long-term residential care beds in three counties are now provided by large private operators, the ESRI said.

The Minister for Health said it was 'absolutely' right to move a patient who had been medically discharged to a clinically appropriate nursing home