A HIQA inspection of a West Clare nursing home has found the facility to be non-compliant in four areas of assessment.
The unannounced visit by the regulator to Kilrush District Hospital took place on the 19th of October 2023.
On the day of inspection, 28 residents were in attendance at the facility which has a maximum capacity for 43 patients.
The two-storey centre located on the Cooraclare Road provides short and long-term care primarily to older people and caters for low, medium, high and maximum dependency needs.
HIQA states that the unannounced risk inspection was carried to address significant issues of noncompliance found on a previous inspection in May of 2023 where the centre was found to be non-compliant in five categories.
This led to October’s follow up where the inspection team led by Seán Ryan and Niall Whelton noted that residents felt safe in the centre and that environmental hygiene had improved in some areas such as bedrooms.
When assessing government and management at the centre, inspectors found that there was a lack of robust auditing and monitoring of infection prevention and control, fire safety, and maintenance of the premises.
On further examination the premises was not maintained in a satisfactory state of repair internally and externally.
Floor coverings were damaged and uneven in bedrooms, communal areas and ancillary support areas, while walls along corridors and in bedrooms were visibly chipped, cracked and damaged.
Externally, HIQA noted that significant maintenance and repair works were required to the external walls, windows, drainage systems, and the grounds.
In terms of infection prevention several pieces of equipment used by residents, such as shower chairs, specialised chairs, and soft furnishings were visibly damaged and in a poor state of repair.
This was found to have compromised effective cleaning of those items and increased the risk of cross infection.
When fire precautions were assessed HIQA found that adequate precautions had not been taken to ensure residents were protected from the risk of fire.
A number of fire doors were observed to be impaired, some did not close fully while others were stuck on the floor when opened, which the regulator says compromised the containment the spread of smoke and fire.
It was also noted that adequate arrangements were not in place for detecting fires as the fire alarm system was not extended to the building to the rear, therefore there would be no warning of fire if one started that area.
Kilrush District Hospital issued a compliance plan issued a compliance plan aimed at addressing the four areas of non-compliance
However upon review the Chief Inspector stated that he was not adequately assured that the proposed measures would ensure compliance with regulations.
You can read the HIQA report here
