Errors in the administration of drugs to residents of a nursing home in Co Longford went unnoticed for weeks, it has been alleged at a fitness-to-practise inquiry.
Mary Mealy, who was employed as director of nursing at Thomond Lodge nursing home in Ballymahon, Co Longford, is facing charges of professional misconduct for allegedly failing to administer prescribed medication to patients.
Heather Neary, the accounts administrator, told a Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland inquiry that on August 22th, 2012, nurse Sarah Murray came into the office and said she had found a black refuse bag in the laundry area.
Ms Neary said Ms Murray asked her and Seán Kelly, the nursing home owner, to accompany her to the room, and to bring a camera. Inside the bag, they found wipes, creams and about 20 tablets.
Nurse Anna Joy told the inquiry that after coming on duty at 8pm that night to give patients medicines, she found the night sedation medicine in a patient’s blister pack was missing, while the medication for the morning was there.
She said she telephoned Ms Mealy to ascertain what had happened. “Ms Mealy told me she had given the correct medication.”
‘Sort it out’
Ms Joy said the only advice imparted by Ms Mealy was to “sort it out”. Ms Joy gave the resident a sleeping tablet.
During his cross-examination of Ms Joy, barrister Ciarán Creavan asked about a series of records in relation to the recording of drugs administered to residents.
He said that according to the administration sheet drugs were not being administered in accordance with prescription sheets. He asked if drugs had been given incorrectly for a period of at least two weeks in August 2012.
Ms Joy admitted there had been “a recording error, but not a drugs administration error”.
The case continues.
