NURSING HOME inspectors have raised significant concerns over the safety and care of the residents at a home in Sligo which failed to meet regulations relating to medication practices, fire management and complaint procedures.
The Sligo Nursing Home, which accommodates 62 residents, is a privately-owned nursing home and operated by Mowlam Healthcare, one of the largest nursing home operators in the country.
Mowlam Healthcare also operates Swords nursing home (formerly known as Leas Cross) which came in for heavy criticism for flouting a total of 20 care regulations last year.
In an announced visit in early October, inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found that levels of hygiene and cleanliness were poor and did not ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.
Inspectors noted a smell of urine on the ground floor of the centre, as well as soiled cleaning cloths and dried pieces of debris in sluice sinks. They also identified a number of serious concerns in relation to fire safety. Among it findings were that:
- The main external exit doors from the building were locked and there was no means of accessing the doors as keys were not present.
- Staff were unable to tell inspectors how they would safely evacuate residents from the centre in the event of fire.
- A recorded simulated evacuation fire drill had never taken place at the centre.
- Another area of concern centred on practices around medication management. Among its findings were that:
- Staff nurses administered antibiotics based on telephone directives from the GP. The telephone orders were not signed by the GP.
- The contents of two basic first aid boxes were examined and dressings were found to be out of date since 2008.
- Staff nurses told inspectors they would not carry out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a resident in an emergency but would call an ambulance.
- The person in charge told inspectors that GPs did not visit regularly and that at times she had sent staff with residents’ medical files to GP practices for new or renewed prescriptions.
In addition, inspectors said staff were unable to satisfactorily describe how they would maintain respect and dignity if a resident died at night, given that beds in shared rooms could not be moved without being disassembled.
Despite the criticism, inspectors also found that the person in charge demonstrated good knowledge of the standards and regulations. It also promoted the privacy of residents, with staff only entering residents’ bedrooms when given permission to do so.
In a statement to The Irish Times, Mowlam Healthcare said the inspection highlighted matters of "clear concern" that have since been addressed. This response is consistent with the operating company's commitment to continuous improvement and providing a high standard of care to residents, the company said.
“We take the recommendations set out by the Hiqa inspectors very seriously and immediately addressed all critical areas including fire safety. All other issues raised during the inspection have since been addressed,” a spokesman said.