INSPECTORS from an independent health watchdog have claimed that breaches of national standards identified in Ennistymon Community Hospital last year were not adequately addressed by the time of a follow-up visit in May of this year.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspector found that record keeping, individualised assessment and care planning, infection prevention and control, and the maintenance of the premises were not in line with regulatory requirements.
The previous inspection on the July 7 2021 in the HSE-run facility had identified non-compliances with the Birch Suite.
The inspector had identified that a glass panel wall and a glass door did not provide adequate privacy. The window openings were defective and could not be closed securely.
There was no interesting view from the room as it overlooked a narrow passageway and grey concrete wall.
The compliance plan submitted following the inspection had detailed these issues would be rectified by October 29 2021. However, this had not been completed.
There were 16 residents in the community hospital, which can accommodate up to 27 residents when inspectors made their unannounced inspection on May 18 last.
The centre at Dough, Ennistymon complied with standards on staff, training and staff development, notification of incidents, complaints procedure, visits, challenging behaviour, and health care.
It was substantially compliant on standards concerning records, governance and management, written policies and procedures, residents’ rights, infection control, and individual assessment and care plan.
It was not compliant on standards governing its premises.
However, the inspector discovered the compliance’s plan in relation to adequate resident privacy, defective window openings and the view from the room onto a grey concrete wall in the Birch Suite were not completed by 29 October 29 2021.
There was inappropriate storage in parts of the premises, such as empty boxes in sluice room, resident equipment in the memory lane area and in resident’s bathrooms, inappropriate storage of incontinence wear, and paint and clutter in the plant room.
There was no effective privacy screens available between the beds in three twin rooms. Two external outdoor spaces were in a poor state of repair.
Some resident equipment, such as pressure relieving cushions, were worn and not amenable to cleaning. Parts of the premises were visibly unclean with dust and debris behind doors, radiators and corners particularly in the dining room.
The microwaves and toaster in the dining room were not visibly clean. Hand gel trays were not visible clean, with a build up of residual gel.
The cleaning trolley was not visibly clean, and there was no system in place to ensure that the trolley would be cleaned as part of the cleaning schedule.
The inspector found some care plan were not developed from an assessment or hadn’t been reviewed to reflect residents’ current needs.
In its compliance plan, the centre pledged all staff would have received training on responsive behaviour by October 28. Online adult safeguarding has been completed by all staff.
A number of works that were identified for action from the previous inspection have been completed such as internal painting in the resident’s sitting room and the repair of window locks.
Memory Lane is open for the residents and activities are scheduled there on a regular basis.
Building works commenced on February in relation to the construction of six bedrooms in the designated centre to bring up to standard.
Any outstanding issues will be addressed as part of this capital project.
The privacy glass for the doors and the blinds for the Birch Unit have been ordered.
The recruitment policy has been updated. An audit has been completed on all policies to ensure they are up to date.
The updated risk management policy is expected to be delivered to the unit by October 24.
The daily cleaning form has been updated to address issues that were identified during the inspection.
Issues with resident’s pressure relieving cushions have been addressed.
Two staff have completed the Link Practitioner IPC course while another nurse is completing her diploma in Infection Prevention and Control.
All care plans will be person centred and completed to reflect current care needs by August 22.
Resident forum meetings recommenced from July 2022 and a residents’ satisfaction survey was completed the previous May.
Positive reports from the inspection noted there was a pleasant relaxed atmosphere throughout the centre and the inspector observed that staff knew the residents well and communicated with them in a polite manner.
A staff member was observed performing some light exercises with the residents in the day room before lunch. An activities schedule was in place.
Residents had access to tv, radio, newspapers, and the internet. All residents had access to a call bell system.
A number of residents told the inspector they had no complaints and the food is good.
Residents were observed to be comfortable and relaxed when sitting in the day room, where some residents were colouring, others listened to music, and others read the daily newspaper.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.