A PRIVATE nursing home in Co Offaly has been told it needs to take urgent action to address a number of issues following an inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).
Inspectors visited Upton House nursing home in Clara in September and found the fabric of the building to be in poor repair, the standard of cleaning and hygiene of the premises was “seriously deficient”, and there was no activity or recreational programme for residents. More dependent residents were observed sitting for long periods of time with no stimulation or meaningful engagement.
“An urgent review of operational policies, procedures and the care planning process is required,” the inspectors said in their report published yesterday.
The report added that there had been little staff training to update new work practices and “the decor of the premises and the equipment provided was not of an acceptable standard and this was a serious and urgent issue”.
When inspectors looked at five staff files there were no CVs, references or evidence of Garda vetting.
The owner said she was in the process of gathering these details.
The nursing home with 15 residents is in a two-storey building with no lift. A lady in an upstairs room said she found the stairs hard to manage.
However, the report says there was evidence of some good practice in the areas of nursing care, there were sufficient staff, and all residents said they enjoyed the food. There were no incidences of pressure sores.
The report was published without a response from the provider of services at the home, Maureen Flanagan. The report states this is because no completed action plan to address issues raised was received from her by Hiqa despite a number of formal requests for same. “The authority regards this as unacceptable,” the report says.
“Matters identified by inspectors as needing to be addressed by the provider will be followed up by the inspectorate. If further regulatory action is required, this will be taken,” it adds.
Ms Flanagan told The Irish Times she had sent a letter to Hiqa querying a number of items and did not get a letter in response.
“We haven’t ignored anything, of course not,” she said. “I’m very anxious to have everything above board.”
The nursing home was in the news earlier this year after the HSE sought to attach 11 conditions to its re-registration.
Ms Flanagan lodged an appeal but it was never heard because when the case came before Tullamore District Court, Hiqa had taken over responsibility for the inspection of nursing homes.