Understaffed centre ordered not to take in new residents

Health watchdog Hiqa has strongly criticised a centre for people with disabilities, ordering no new residents be taken in until issues of understaffing are addressed.

The inspection uncovered a string of failings at the designated centre for people with disabilities, which is operated by the HSE in Co Westmeath.

The failings at the facility included inappropriate staffing, shortcomings regarding nursing care, inadequate management systems, and insufficient systems in place in the centre for the assessment, management, and ongoing review of risk, including a system for responding to an emergency or emergencies.