Nursing home failed to address shortcomings despite seven inspections

Inspections carried out at a Co Waterford nursing home show a catalogue of failure to address shortcomings over a period of 18 months, leading to concern for its residents.

Seven inspections between Sept 2010 and Feb 2012 conducted by the Health Information and Quality Authority found that only marginal improvements were made to facilities and management at Martin’s Hospital, a 17-bed residential care centre for older people in Portlaw.

A report on the inspections was published yesterday by Hiqa.

A decision last month by the authority to cancel registration of the facility lead to its closure. The HSE has taken over the centre but it remains closed.

A HSE spokesman said the service was “engaged in positive discussions with the centre’s voluntary management committee as regards the future use of the premises as a day care facility”.

Jillian Wills, the registered provider of care at Martin’s Hospital, at first appealed against the decisions of the acting chief inspector of social services, but subsequently withdrew that appeal.

Inspection reports by Hiqa highlighted that the provider failed to address a number of issues, including medication management and inadequate fire policies.

Issues identified included:

* No registered nurse in the centre on a 24-hour basis;

* No risk management policy or procedure;

* No accident or incident or medical records;

* No mandatory training including fire, manual handling or the prevention;

* Detection of and response to abuse.

Despite an action plan being drawn up by Hiqa, subsequent inspections found many issues had not been adequately addressed.

A report by inspectors who viewed the facility on Sept 15, 2011 — a year after problems were identified — stated: “Overall, given that this was the fifth inspection of the centre by the authority the marginal improvements noted were not adequate.

“Inspectors found an apparent failure on behalf of the provider/person in charge to comply, and no clear rationale was provided to account for the lack of progress.”

A further inspection last November showed progress remained marginal.

According to Hiqa, “notwithstanding the willingness of the provider to bring about some change, inspectors also found the governance of the service to be in a state of disarray and were not satisfied that the change management process had, or would achieve, the desired objective.”

The last inspection conducted on Feb 21, found “unsatisfactory improvement culminating with continuing poor practice”.