Medication trolleys now secure in Carrigoran

A recent inspection report found that residents’ medication was not securely stored on trolleys, with the trolleys left unlocked and unattended while the nurse administered medication in Carrigoran Nursing House, Newmarket-on-Fergus. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) recently published the report having carried out an inspection from April 11 and 13.
They found the home is well organised and complies with regulations and standards under the requirements of the Health Act 2007. However, inspectors had some concerns regarding medication management and decided that significant improvements needed to be made.
Some prescription sheets had not been signed by the GP, though a senior nurse had this problem solved before the end of the inspection. Inspectors also noted that not all staff had been trained in fire safety and care assistants did not properly sluice heavily soiled bed linen in line with best practice in infection control. They were also concerned with some of the staff interaction with the patients, as there was no planned approach to the social interaction and stimulation of residents in some units with higher dependency levels and cognitive impairment. Also, some residents who required assistance with their meals were not attended to within an appropriate timeframe.
The use of restraint/enablers still needed some improvement since the last report, in that general logs did not reflect the individual arrangements for each resident.
The provider has responded by ensuring that nurses are now individually risk assessing each resident and identifying associated risk with restraint use.
The report claimed that the provider, Christina Murphy, and the person in charge, Frances Neilan, demonstrated a very positive attitude and showed strong leadership. The provider had addressed most of the issues identified in the previous action plan and had made significant progress in completing the remaining actions required. 
In response to the report, Ms Murphy insisted that staff fire training is underway and all staff records would be current by June. She also improved healthcare regulations, with medication trolleys now being secured and used properly.
Inspectors received 35 questionnaires and spoke with residents and relatives during the inspection. The majority of comments received were very positive. Some stated that there were “plenty of staff”, while another likened the canteen staff to “the nicest people I have ever met”. Some residents, however, commented that they would like more exercises to be done, particularly during the weekend “as people find the time long”.
Overall, it was found that the residents receive a good standard of service and appropriate treatment. Full details of the inspection is available on www.hiqa.ie.