No showers for a month at hospital

Some residents of a community hospital had not had a shower or a bath for more than a month, according to a report by health watchdog Hiqa.

An inspection report for St Patrick’s Community Hospital in Summerhill, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, which is a centre for older people, also found other shortcomings at the centre, including inadequate staffing, compliance issues and the lack of a suitable chair, resulting in some residents being bed-bound.

It also said there were a number of issues linked to fire safety at the facility, which was home to 82 residents at the time of the inspection.