Hiqa report finds issues at Midleton hospital

A health watchdog inspection of Midleton Community Hospital in Cork has found deficiencies in how it dealt with complaints of potential abuse.

The inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) also found issues with the layout of some parts of the campus and inadequate bathing and showering facilities, although it praised many other aspects of the service there.

The inspections took place on two days last October at the HSE-run facility which provides long-stay, respite, and convalescent care to the older population of Midleton and the surrounding area. It has capacity for 53 residents.

The inspection recorded “numerous issues of non-compliance in relation to the design and layout of areas of the premises as regards the legislative requirement to protect and promote the privacy and dignity of residents”.

The report states that improvements were needed in a number of areas, including management: notification of incidents; providing a safe and suitable premises; and its complaints procedure.

An initial action plan submitted to Hiqa was deemed not satisfactory. The provider was asked to submit a revised action plan concerning premises but this was also deemed unsatisfactory.

When it came to areas of major non-compliance with regulations, the report claimed three allegations of abuse were not investigated as such but were recorded and investigated as complaints.

“This was not in line with the guidelines in the centre’s own policy or the ‘Trust in Care’ (HSE 2005) document. In addition, staff training records indicated that all staff had not received updated mandatory training in the prevention and response to elder abuse,” the report states.

On the notification of incidents, the report says: “A record of all incidents occurring in the centre was being maintained. However, notifications as regards allegation of abuse were not being made to the chief inspector in line with the requirements of the regulations. Nevertheless, the person in charge sent the required notification forms to the authority following the inspection.”

It says Hiqa had not been notified of some allegations, and further noted training records were not up to date.

The inspection also found there were insufficient controls in place to supervise access to the centre from the numerous open fire doors affording access for the general public to the centre, and that residents in all areas were not provided with adequate dining or personal storage space.

In terms of layout, the report states that the size and layout of multi-occupancy bedrooms used by residents were not suitable for their needs, with one shower and one bath available for 26 residents.