Watchdog gives €16m hospital all-clear to open

THE Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) yesterday gave the all-clear for the opening of a new €16.4 million community hospital in Dingle, Co Kerry.

The first residents had been due to transfer to the hospital from the mid-19th century St Elizabeth’s Hospital on July 27, but plans had to be postponed at short notice because HIQA was not satisfied all facilities met required standards.

However, HIQA yesterday issued a certificate of registration to the HSE which will enable the first phase transfer of 46 elderly residents to proceed on October 27.

A HIQA inspection in early July found the design and layout of the hospital did not meet the needs of each resident and also sought improvements to en-suite facilities and signage.

Space in twin bedrooms was insufficient and could compromise the privacy and dignity of residents, the report found.

It found there was inadequate storage for residents’ belongings in their rooms, inadequate curtains, or screens, in shared bedrooms, and also sought improvements in communal accommodation and in sitting, recreational and dining areas.

The report also called for action in relation to handrails in dining room and courtyard areas.

HIQA chief inspector of social services Dr Marion Witton yesterday said that in granting registration, the authority was acting in the public interest and in the interest of the health, safety and quality of life of the residents.

“The authority will continue to work with the HSE, as with any provider, to ensure the smooth and safe transition from the previous centre to the new facility,” she said.

“As with all registered nursing homes, we will also monitor the services provided to ensure the people living there continue to receive safe care.”

Dr Witton said effective regulation was there to ensure residents received the residential services they deserve. “It is important that residents of nursing homes are safe, therefore under no circumstances will the authority compromise on what is required to ensure the safety of residents,” she stated.

The HSE welcomed certification, with local health manager for Kerry Michael Fitzgerald saying it was a “great relief”.

The hospital is the first public residential care facility to be formally registered in Kerry and he paid tribute to all staff involved in the “rigorous and intensive” process.

’’We will be now be in a position to move without further delay and this is only right given the difficulty in maintaining the old hospital which is well beyond the requirements for the provision of modern-day residential care,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The HSE pointed out the hospital had been constructed prior to July 2009, when HIQA became responsible for the registration and inspection of all residential care services for older people.