Nursing home closed over fears for residents’ safety

A NURSING home that was the subject of a HSE court attempt to shut it down seven years ago has been effectively closed after serious concerns were raised for residents’ safety.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) secured an interim court order last Friday cancelling the registration of Rostrevor House Nursing Home at 66 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin.

The order was sought over fears for the welfare of the home’s 23 residents.

The owners of the home have 28 days to file an objection. It is the third time HIQA has closed a private nursing home.

The most recent inspection of Rostrevor House by HIQA, in April 2010, found the home was being well managed.

However, it has also been subject to a number of concerns over nursing care standards, the nursing environment and allegations of a sexual nature.

The HSE has now taken charge of the home.

“On foot of a court order secured by the Health Information and Quality Authority in relation to Rostrevor Nursing Home, the HSE has been instructed to take charge of the nursing home with effect from 5pm on June 3, 2011.” a HSE spokesperson confirmed.

“The HSE’s priorities are to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patients, of which there are 23, assess the patients’ needs, work towards sourcing alternative accommodation for the patients in co-operation with their families.”

Rostrevor Nursing Home opened in 1985, and has been in the news several times since 2004.

In September 2005, the owner was fined €8,000 and ordered to pay an additional €2,500 in costs for a series of breaches of nursing home regulations.

Three nurses who worked at the home were struck off for professional misconduct in 2005.

The HSE took High Court action in 2004 to try to close the home but failed, as it was found that it was the district court that had authority to close a registered home. The HSE then began proceedings in the district court.