Plans to register and inspect nursing agencies and residential family centres have been delayed by four months.

The Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday it had issued the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) with a new start date for the registration and inspection of domiciliary care services, nurses agencies and residential family centres.

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive of Counsel and Care told ePolitix.com: "I am disappointed that the care standards are going to be delayed being implemented.

"It is my view that users and practitioners have a right to expect high quality care and I believe that the minimum standards are a good way of delivering this. My fear is that for some, the implementation of the standards in January may come too late."

Forum Response: Age Concern

A spokeswoman for Age Concern told ePolitix.com: "We are worried about the impact any delay in implementing better inspection standards could have on the quality of care for older people. Better regulation of agencies and domiciliary care servcies is essential if we are to improve standards."