A lack of infection control measures at a Roscommon Care home saw Covid-19 spread through the facility according to a report from the Health Information and Quality Authority.
An unannounced compliance inspection at Oakwood Private Nursing Home in February found that infection control strategies directed
following an initial inspection a month previous had not been followed.
The facility offers long and short term care for 56 adults over the age of 18 including people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
HIQA inspectors highlighted that staff treated residents with kindness and respect in the course of their duty, with patients described
as happy with their stay.
The older persons service had notified HIQA of an outbreak of Covid-19 in the centre at the end of 2021, after 3 residents tested positive for the virus.
An inspection completed in early January found what HIQA described as 'concerning levels of non-compliance'.
However following a subsequent unannounced inspection a month later, it was recorded that the virus had spread to 50 residents and 14 staff.
This subsequent report found that the provider had failed to implement the required improvement actions identified and that immediate action was now required to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents.
One issue highlighted by inspectors during the examination of the centre, was that there was just one nurse rostered to monitor the
symptoms of 50 residents between 8pm and 8am.
It was also found that residents did not have access to appropriate medical and health care.
Records of residents Covid tests, health status and isolation requirements were also not up to date according to HIQA personnel.
The overall management systems of the centre were found to be non-compliant in several areas, including communication, staffing and
contingency plans.
The provider has confirmed a plan of action to the Health Information and Quality Authority to address the concerns raised in the inspections.
