RESIDENTS in Carrigoran House, Newmarket-on-Fergus expressed a high level of satisfaction with the care staff provided, according to a new report published by an independent health watchdog.
There were 104 residents in the centre when HIQA inspectors carried out an inspection on November 14 last, which is five less than full capacity.
There were no breaches of regulations at the centre, which met standards on staffing, training and development, governance and management, notification of incidents, complaints’ procedure, written policies and procedures, visits, infection control, health care, protection, residents’ rights and fire precautions.
It was substantially compliant on the individual assessment and care plan.
Residents reported that the staff were very kind and that they treated them with patience, compassion and respect. One resident stated “I couldn’t be happier’’, while another resident stated staff couldn’t be faulted as there was no reason to complain.
A lot of good practice was observed during the inspection.
“There was a friendly and homely atmosphere in the centre. The inspector observed that staff greeted residents by name as they passed, which added to the friendly, relaxed atmosphere,” the report stated.
“There was a church to the left of the reception where Mass was held two days a week.
“Residents spoke about an organised fortnightly gathering that occurred on Fridays known locally as ‘’The Friday Pub’’. Residents told the inspector that they enjoyed the live music, singsongs and the dancing,” according to an inspection report.
The inspector was assured that the provider was delivering appropriate direct care to residents. Overall, Carrigoran House provided residents with quality, safe care in accordance with their needs and choices.
However, this inspection found that the management and oversight of care planning assessments was not in full compliance with the centres’ policy and with the requirement of the regulations.
The inspector found that the compliance plan from a previous inspection in June 2023 had been implemented. There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified nursing, healthcare and household staff available to support residents’ assessed needs.
A review of a resident’s records found that care plans, developed to manage the risks of falls, were not always implemented. A care plan directed that a resident should be supported to utilise a walking mobility frame to minimise the risk of repeated falls. However, this was not in place on the day of the inspection. In addition, a comprehensive assessment of a resident’s well-being including neurological observations, was not always completed following numerous falls, as directed by the centre’s falls management policy.
The centre was visibly clean on inspection. Damaged floors highlighted in the June 2023 inspection had been repaired or replaced. There was appropriate infection prevention and control policies and procedures in place, consistent with the National Standards for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Community Settings published by the Authority. The provider had taken action to ensure the physical environment supported effective infection prevention and control measures, and reduced the risk of cross infection.
In its response, the centre confirmed the falls audit process has been reviewed and amended to capture where improvements are required in the risk assessment and care planning procedure, to ensure that it follows its policy to document vital observations and completing neurological assessments for any unwitnessed fall.
Care plans are audited to ensure residents assessed as at risk of falls have their safety interventions implemented. Where necessary constructive feedback will be given to staff.
On a weekly basis, the Clinical Nurse Manager on each unit, will audit 10% of residents care plans to ensure that they are up to date, relevant and reflect the resident’s current physical and psychological, personal and social care needs. Every four months a completed audit of the resident’s assessments and care plans will be compiled and given to the Director of Nursing.
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.