Hiqa inspectors raise concerns over unreported abuse and cold food at nursing homes

At Lystoll Lodge Nursing Home in Kerry, inspectors raised “significant concerns” around management of the site.

Unreported abuse incidents, gaps in safeguarding training, and cold food were among concerns raised by health watchdog inspectors in reports on 50 nursing homes.

While many homes were found fully compliant with all regulations, Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) inspectors were clearly worried about residents at a number of sites.

At Lystoll Lodge Nursing Home in Kerry, inspectors raised “significant concerns” around management of the site. They issued an “urgent action plan” covering safety gaps.

Reports on incidents and allegations of abuse were not sent to the chief inspector as is legally required nor had all been properly recorded internally. Details of the abuse were not given. Reports on two incidents when residents had to go to hospital after falls were not sent.

When inspectors spoke to residents and families, they discovered their complaints were not being recorded either.

The chapel was being used as a nurses’ station and, instead, part of another room was used for religious purpose. The dining room was also not big enough for the residents, they said.

At Blarney Nursing and Retirement Home in Cork, inspectors found gaps in training for staff including five who had not completed safeguarding training.

They raised concerns about care planning for residents and seeking of consent for use of restraints. For example, two people did not have a nutrition plan despite advice on specific care interventions from a speech and language therapist.

In general, residents were not properly assessed for risks of malnutrition and there were also gaps in mobility plans including around use of hoists.

At Kilrush District Hospital Ltd in Clare, inspectors raised serious questions around management. 

They said it “was unclear who held overall accountability and responsibility for key aspects of the service” and this included fire safety and infection control.

They also found “poor monitoring and oversight” of fire safety. Problems with the state of the building included a corroded oil tank, damaged floors inside, and walls which were visibly stained, chipped, and cracked.

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At Nenagh Manor Nursing Home, the high turnover of staff was a key problem. Experienced healthcare assistant were relocated to the kitchen to fill gaps there and replaced by agency healthcare assistants.

The bain-marie appliance for keeping food warm had been broken since 2022. In some cases residents in the dementia unit waited an hour for their food. Hot food for other residents was on a cold tray for at least 15 minutes before being served.

They also published reports on use of restraints in a number of centres including St Joseph’s Hospital in Cork city. These reports were mainly positive. 

All inspection reports are on the Hiqa website.