Marymount breaches three of 12 areas in Hiqa report but other aspects of care commended

Inspectors from health watchdog Hiqa have recommended some improvements at the Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Cork, while commending other aspects of care there.

It was the ninth time the facility was inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority and the report found it was majorly non-compliant under three of the 12 headings under review.

However, inspectors also stressed the high standard of care on offer at Marymount, citing areas such as Suitable Person in Charge, where Marymount was fully compliant with regulations.

The report, published yesterday, said the physical environment at Marymount was comfortable and bright and appeared well maintained; best practice was observed by inspectors regarding administration of medicines, and a record of incidents and accidents was maintained in the centre.

Other examples of positive actions at the centre included the activities schedule which was varied and included group activities as well as one-to-one sessions.

However, inspectors did highlight some areas which it said needed to be addressed, such as unrestricted access to sluice rooms, kitchens and store rooms and claims that residents were at risk from significant water temperatures in these unrestricted sluice rooms and kitchens.

Inspectors also said risk in store rooms included unrestricted access to chemicals and disposable equipment, with the provider nominee issued with an immediate action plan on the first day of inspection and the rooms secured before the end of the first day of inspection.

Inspectors said the concern that logs demonstrated possible allegations of abuse were not recognised as such and that proposed staffing levels were not always achieved.

All staff did not have up-to-date training in protection of vulnerable adults.

In its response, the centre said all staff training will be facilitated in the next three months and all complaints, already screened for potential abuse by the director of nursing, will now be documented.