'Nothing is right...I just know I’m not myself' — HIQA reports tell of Covid toll in nursing homes

A total of 31 reports have been published by the Health Information and Quality Authority, with many outlining the shortcomings in some nursing homes in dealing with the pandemic, and the impact on residents, including those who avoided infection. 

One nursing home where nine residents died from Covid-19 could not provide adequate documentation and tracking of those at the centre, meaning HIQA couldn't assess the total number of people who had tested positive for the coronavirus and how many residents had recovered.

Nine residents passed away in just four weeks from Covid-19 at the Brookvale Manor Private Nursing Home in Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo, but inspectors found that a resident displaying possible signs and symptoms of the virus was not transferred to hospital for treatment in line with their care plan and the record did not include a rationale for the decision not to transfer.