Nursing home criticised by inspectors

A DUBLIN nursing home on the site of the infamous Leas Cross home has been criticised by inspectors for serving cold food, not respecting residents’ privacy and removing pages from the complaints book.

During an unannounced inspection of Swords Nursing Home, at Mount Ambrose, Swords, inspectors from the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA) witnessed:

- Personal information posted on the doors and walls of residents’ rooms compromising privacy and confidentiality.

- A resident being assisted to get dressed, while the door of the shared bedroom was open, as was the curtain around the bed.

- Staff members entering a bedroom without knocking or seeking permission from the resident.

- An overcrowded day room with 27 residents sitting elbow-to-elbow along the walls.

- Residents who felt ‘locked in’ because they did not have access to gardens.

- The use of coded stickers on bedroom doors to indicate if a resident had conditions such as MRSA or diabetes.

Residents also told inspectors that personal belongings such as clothes went missing and they were not aware of an ironing service. Residents also complained that there was not much to do when the activities co-ordinator was not around. Activities witnessed by inspectors included knitting, bingo and reciting the rosary.

Residents stated that there was little choice for dinner. The staff member on duty did not have a catering qualification and said she was covering for the chef who was not working that day.

Inspectors were particularly concerned that there was no evidence to indicate that a review of each of the 60 residents’ medication had taken place within the previous three months.

“This was of particular concern, given that the inspectors noted that many residents were taking a large number of medications.”

Overall, the report said there was a need for significant improvement in the management of the home, although many residents did say they were happy in the home and that staff members were very kind.

In response to the criticisms, the registered provider, Mowlam Healthcare, said it has endeavoured to provide high quality, resident-focused nursing care, delivered by highly-skilled professionals in a modern nursing facility.

The provider also made the point that although the July inspection was conducted on the basis of a complaint, it had not received any information about the complaint. “It is our understanding that the nursing home has a right to see and investigate any complaints concerning the home,” the provider said.

Mowlan Healthcare operates a number of nursing homes and retirement villages around the country.