HIQA finds Cork nursing home in breach of 14 regulations
A nursing home in Co Cork has been found to be in breach of fourteen health regulations by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
HIQA carried out an unannounced inspection at St Finbarr's Hospital in Cork city over two days in April.
Inspectors found Garda vetting disclosure was not available in the centre for recently-recruited staff, while vetting was not in place for all volunteers.
There were also open visiting arrangements with visitors seen to freely come and go from the centre.
Inspectors said there are not suitable facilities for families to spend time alone with residents approaching the end of life, while they also found inadequate fire safety precautions as fire drills did not involve a full evacuation.
HIQA published 20 inspection reports on residential centres for older people today, with inspectors finding evidence of good practice and compliance with the regulations and standards in 11 centres.
However, evidence of non-compliance was found in nine centres. In these centres, residents’ needs were not always being met in line with the regulations and standards.
Inspectors identified non-compliances in areas such as governance and management; healthcare needs; premises; residents’ rights; personal possessions; training and staff development; and written policies and procedures.
Reacting to the HIQA report, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare said: "We acknowledge the issues raised by HIQA, and moved immediately after the inspection to address as many as possible.
"Of the 14 areas of non-compliance, 10 have now been addressed. To enhance the social model of care we now have three staff assigned to provide therapeutic activities for the residents."
A spokesperson that that they have invested "substantially" in furniture and other comfort items for the residents.
"We are confident there have been significant changes at St Finbarr's since this inspection, and residents are now enjoying a very different environment and experience.
"The four items which have not yet been addressed relate to the buildings themselves.
"The current dated infrastructure occupied by St. Finbarr’s Residential Services for Older People is due to be replaced by a new purpose built unit on site by 2021, as part of a national Public Private Partnership process currently being progressed by the HSE National Estates Office.
"A new building is the only way to address issues of privacy, storage space, space for visiting and space for activities."
