Health Service Executive (HSE) officials who visited a nursing home in Clonakilty, Co Cork last September noted complaints that a member of staff shouted at two residents and, in the case of one resident, administered medication which the patient stated was not due, according to inspection reports published on the HSE website.
In another report, as inspectors arrived at Moyne nursing home in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, they found an apparently confused resident walking outside the building around the car park area.
However, a spokeswoman for the home yesterday said the individual in question "liked to go for a walk", was there in the "full knowledge" of staff at the home, and with the agreement of her family. Other issues such as unsafe furniture had also since been addressed, she said.
Among the other issues highlighted in the reports, which cover inspections conducted since September of this year, are poorly heated rooms, restraints being used without documentation, patients being tied to wheelchairs, a lack of policies on the control of bed sores, and patient deaths not being notified to HSE.
Inspectors also criticised inadequate staffing levels, a lack of care plans, soiled/grubby bed linen, and dirty buildings.
But officials visiting Golden Meadow's nursing home in Clonakilty asked for complaints in relation to a member of staff who shouted at two residents, and administered medication to one patient who stated that this was not due, to be followed up.
They also state that the wrong medication was administered to a resident at the home. A spokesperson for the home was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Inspectors said "ambulant" patients were being tied into chairs with restraints at White Friars nursing home in Glanmire, Co Cork, the reports also reveal.
One resident at Sacred Heart nursing home in Spiddal, Co Galway, was restrained in a wheelchair, but this was not documented, according to another report.
Meanwhile, inspectors said the the use of mackintoshes and draw sheets - which can prompt bed sores - should cease at Padre Pio nursing home in Cappoquin, Co Waterford.
Eamon Timmons, spokesman for Age Action Ireland, called for the setting up of the planned independent inspectorate as a matter of urgency.
Nursing home reports: selected extracts
Moyne Nursing Home, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Inspected: October 12th, 2006.
"As the inspection team arrived at the nursing home, an apparently confused resident was, unsupervised, walking outside of the building around the car park area. The internal door of the sluice room was secured open, while the rear external door of the sluice room was open and unattended. In room 11, the wardrobe was not fixed to the wall."
Golden Meadow's Nursing Home, Convent Road, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Inspected: September 7th, 2006.
"The issue in two cases was the [named individual] shouted at two separate residents and in one resident's case also administered medication, which the patient stated was not due . . . both complaints to be followed up by management."
Mooncoin Nursing Home, Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny. Inspected: September 11th, 2006.
"Six deaths since previous visit only two notified to HSE-South . . . all deaths to be notified to HSE-South within 48 hours."