Hiqa report highlights 'missing medications' at Cork nursing home
The State’s health services watchdog has called for a number of improvements to be made at a Cork nursing home following reports of missing medications there, .
Representatives from the Health Information and Quality Authority carried out an unannounced inspection at the Bishopscourt Residential Care centre, in Liskillea, Waterfall, on June 28 and 29.
In a report just released, they identified a number of areas of non-compliance at the centre, particularly in relation to medication management and safeguarding practises.
“Inspectors saw that incident reports completed, identified a number of issues with missing medications, extra medications in pouches, missing pouches, and torn pouches,” reads the report.
“These incidents have been ongoing for a number of years and although some controls had been put in place, the whole system of medication management in the centre required review to be compliant with legislation and best practice guidelines.”
Other medication management issues included the administration of medical products which had not been prescribed.
Hiqa also found that suspicions or allegations of abuse at the centre were not always reported to the authority “in a timely manner” and that adequate supervision arrangements had not been put in place to safeguard other residents from the risk of abuse “at the earliest possible opportunity”.
“Incidents of peer on peer abuse had occurred previously, but had not been reported to Hiqa as required by the regulations.
“Inadequate safeguarding arrangements had been put in place following the first incident, to safeguard residents from further abuse. Safeguarding measures were eventually put in place following notification of the behaviour to Hiqa.”
The authority did note, however, that residents’ healthcare and nursing needs were met “to a good standard”. It said inspectors observed staff interacting with residents in a positive and caring manner and that all residents spoken with said they felt safe and secure.
The purpose of the latest inspection was to focus on the care and quality of life for residents with dementia. On the days of the inspection, 46 of the 60 residents had a formal diagnosis of dementia, while another two were suspected of having dementia.
