Dublin nursing home suspends care staff over alleged privacy breaches

Hiqa and gardaí notified after internal inquiry at Beechfield Manor in Shankill

A nursing home in south Dublin has suspended four care assistants following an internal investigation into alleged breaches of residents’ privacy.

Beechfield Manor Nursing Home in Shankill notified the Health Service Executive, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) and An Garda Síochána in the past week that it had suspended the employees. It said it had initiated a full review.

The nursing home has 68 elderly residents and employs 65 care and housekeeping staff on a full- and part-time basis.

“While Beechfield is not aware of any safety issues arising in connection with the situation, we have treated the matter with the utmost seriousness,” a representative of the home said.

READ MORE

Upset

“The residents’ families have been kept fully informed and Beechfield representatives are meeting with the families concerned. We have indicated to the families that we are sorry that this has happened and for any upset caused.”

Hiqa said it was aware of the case, having been notified, as per the relevant regulations, by the provider of the nursing home.

“A regulatory process is underway and we do not make any comment while this is happening so as not to prejudice the outcome of that process,” it added.

Hiqa inspection

No further details of the alleged breaches were available. The most recent Hiqa inspection of the home in April this year indicated that residents’ privacy and dignity were respected and that they were consulted with in how the centre was organised.

Staff were observed knocking on bedroom, toilet and bathroom doors and waiting for permission to enter.

“The inspector found residents were dressed well and according to their individual choice. The inspector observed staff interacting with residents in a courteous manner and addressing them by their preferred name,” the inspection report said.

Residents’ civil and political rights were also respected.