Care home boss says Hiqa rules 'unachievable'

THE OWNER of a private care home said yesterday that demands sometimes required by the Health Information and Quality Authority are “unachievable”.

Olivia English, owner of the Sancta Maria care home in Co Clare, was commenting after a Hiqa report found “inspectors had serious concerns about the management of a resident at risk of malnutrition” at the home.

The report followed a two-day announced inspection of the 34-bed care home at Cratloe last October. It recorded that the resident had lost significant weight since January 2011.

The inspectors said a nutritional assessment for the resident stated there was a need for a referral to a dietitian, but this had not taken place.

The report said the patient was referred to a GP in April 2011. It went on: “Despite continuing to lose weight, the resident’s medical notes indicated that the resident had not been reviewed by the GP for the management of weight loss since April 2011.” The report stated that following the inspection, the person in charge was requested to take appropriate action to manage the resident’s weight loss and a satisfactory response was submitted.

Yesterday, Ms English said: “The resident’s GP was notified when her weight loss was first noted as the residents are weighed monthly and he commenced the necessary supplements.

“Community services do not attend nursing homes and the resident was not able to access dietitian services because of cutbacks and her physical and medical condition.”

Ms English added: “We can only encourage residents to eat, considering their likes and dislikes and providing a high-quality diet, rich in necessary nutrients. As anyone who cares for an elderly relative at home will be aware, there are days when due to their medical and psychological condition they decline food, in which cases prescribed supplements are given.”

Ms English said the home now had a new policy in place where recommendations from dietitans in such cases were provided over the phone. She added: “You try your best, but it can be very, very difficult and there is a lot of pressure on care home owners and staff to meet the standards set by Hiqa, which are sometimes unachievable” because of budget constraints.

The Hiqa report stated: “Overall inspectors were satisfied that the residents were cared for in a safe environment and healthcare needs were adequately met.”