Inspectors raise concerns over nursing home

SERIOUS concerns have been raised by health inspectors about the running of a Cork nursing home.

Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), who visited Amberley Home in Fermoy last September, found it was using a room that was not registered for a resident.

Records showed that on a number of occasions there were 48 residents in the private nursing home though it was only registered for 47. Inspectors also found an exposed cable in the room, care plans were not being updated, elder abuse training was not provided to all staff; and there was an absence of fire drills.

The home had also failed to draw up a person-centred activity programmes, despite a commitment given to have it completed by September 1. However, the home had taken steps to provide a better food choice.

Nursing home provider Liam Fitzgerald told HIQA that the use of the unregistered room was “exceptional” and that “mitigating circumstances” caused it to be used. He pointed out that a wall in the room had been plastered and the cable was no longer visible.

He confirmed the room was not being used until the registration process was completed.

Mr Fitzgerald said all staff would receive training in elder abuse, care plans were being updated, one to one activities were in place and an external company had been engaged to carry out fire drills.