HIQA hails improvements in centres for people with disabilities
There was a significant improvement in the care of residents in centres for people with disabilities in 2015, according to the latest report from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
HIQA inspected 561 of the 937 designated centres for adults and mixed centres for adults and children with disabilities last year. There were 741 inspections in total.
The its annual report represents an overview of the findings from the 518 announced and 223 unannounced inspections.
Of inspection reports published in 2015, 49 inspections did not identify any actions required while a further 208 inspections required less than 10 actions.
The body said that adoption of new regulations marks a cultural change in the sector.
In its 2014 report, HIQA had raised concerns about institutionalised care practices that had been continuing for years.
The inspections carried out in 2015 found evidence of a high standard of care and a focus on individual resident’s needs and preferences in many cases.
Some providers were found to provide an excellent standard of care.
Mary Dunnion, chief inspector of social services and director of regulation in HIQA, said: ”Initial inspections in 2014 showed there was a lack of understanding on how to meet the requirements of the regulations and the standards.
“In particular, HIQA found that residents living in many large congregated settings were not being adequately protected or kept safe. Institutionalized care practices that had been ongoing for years were having an adverse impact on the quality of life for residents.”
“Evidence shows that where there was a competent person in charge, a centre was able to meet the regulations and standards.
“Good compliance was found in centres where the person in charge had sufficient oversight of the quality and safety of the service being delivered. Residents’ rights, dignity and privacy were respected and measures were taken to improve their quality of life.”
“However, this is not reflective of practice across all centres.
“HIQA has had to commit significant resources to risk-based inspections where and when residents’ safety has been breached and has had to take enforcement action in a number of centres during 2015 to drive improvements in the standard of care.
“Formal enforcement procedures under Section 59 and Section 60 of the Health Act 2007 as amended were used in respect of four centres during 2015.”
