Inspections reveal nursing home failures

THE latest batch of nursing home inspections reveal a litany of substandard conditions and care at a number of facilities.

One report on the Moyne nursing home, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, detailed how when inspectors arrived a disturbed and dazed female patient was found wandering alone in the home’s car park.

The disturbing finding emerged as another 20 inspections of homes were released on the internet by the Health Service Executive over the last week. The inspections took place in recent months.

Several bedrooms in the Wexford home were colder than a required temperature of 18ºC.

Doors to a sluice room were left open, the report added. An electric cable was also trailing around a wardrobe.

The inspection warns that “vulnerable residents” should not be allowed to wander.

In addition, an outdoor wooden shed, not pest or weather proof, was used to store pads, drinking water and food as well as an old urine bottle. Its floor was also dirty. Inspectors warned that prescription medicines should not be accessible to residents, but were found stored beside a hand basin.

White Friars nursing home, Glanmire, Co Cork, was heavily criticised for breaching regulations, having “ambulant patients tied into chairs with restraints”.

The facility’s record of patients’ valuables was “inadequate” and a record of complaints was not available.

Another facility, Killure Bridge nursing home in Waterford, did not record the cause of 11 patients’ deaths on a register.

It was also ordered to stop using certain sheets prone to causing bed sores.

Rosemount home, Knocknacarra, Galway, was found to have insufficient staff on duty.

Another facility in Spiddal, Sacred Heart nursing home, was criticised for failing to keep records on restraining a resident in a wheelchair.

The home also needs additional policies on pressure sore prevention, care of a resident with dementia and infection control.

Home inspections for just 13 of the 16 counties are available at present.

Age Action yesterday drew attention to inconsistencies in the reports.

Head of advocacy Eamon Timmins argued: “They’re not transparent, they’re vague.”

Many inspections fail to note the health care of residents, focusing only on environment issues, say Age Action.