Significant focus and resources will be needed to bring a Roscommon care home back to compliance according to the Health and Information Quality Authority.
A number of major issues were highlighted during a recent unannounced inspection of Oakwood Private Nursing Home outside of Roscommon Town.
The centre offers long and short term care for 56 adults including people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
The purpose built single story facility has a history of compliance with HIQA standards, but recent findings have shown immediate and significant work is needed to ensure residents are receiving safe and adequate care.
Residents of Oakwood Private Nursing Home's told inspectors on the day, that they were well looked after at the centre and that staff were kind and respectful.
The staffing at the Roscommon Home was found to not have an adequate skill level and mix, while some staff members had not completed mandatory training on safeguarding vulnerable adults.
Some members of staff were also found to not have fluent English leading to communication difficulties with residents.
The reporting of incidents at the facility was also highlighted as non compliant, with failures to report a number of resident Covid-19 test and 3 falls resulting in the hospitalisation of a resident not reported to the Chief Inspector.
Infection control was another source of concern for HIQA inspectors,with call bells and assisted toilet floors described as visibly unclean, while incontinence wear was noted as being disposed of in open bins in resident's rooms.
Inspectors noted night staffing levels and fire equipment issues in the designated smoking area were causes of concern with regard to fire safety.
A large amount of lint was also noted in a clothes dryer, with no cleaning schedule in place, leading to a significant risk of fire.
In the area of protection, shortcomings in the system were noted in the failure of the provider to recognise and respond to allegations of abuse if made.
Overall, the centre received 12 non-compliances and 1 substantial compliance in the report.
Oakwood Private Nursing Home has confirmed a large body of work in response to the inspection report including staffing reviews and recruitment, improvements to complaints procedures and a plan to address fire safety concerns.
In a statement to Shannonside FM news, the provider says the following:
We at Oakwood Private Nursing Home have undertaken improvements recommended in the HIQA inspection report. Included are staffing reviews and recruitment, improvements to complaints procedures, a plan to address infection control and fire safety concerns.
As pointed out, we have a history of compliance with HIQA standards and are particularly pleased that our residents could tell inspectors they were well looked after and that staff were kind and respectful towards them.
That said, we are disappointed at not meeting standards to HIQA requirements in every area on this inspection and this is being addressed as a priority.
