SERIOUS FAILINGS in management, safety and hygiene have been outlined in a Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) application to have a nursing home deregistered.
Tullamore District Court heard how residents were left in cold rooms and nurses wore three cardigans to work, dead spiders were found in saucepans and faecal matter was left on a bathroom grab-rail for hours.
Upton House, Clara in Offaly was closed down following an interim de-registration granted to Hiqa at the end of last month.
Person in charge and a director Maureen Flanagan is challenging its application for permanent deregistration.
Inspector Marian Delaney Hynes said care was provided “in a custodial manner” with residents’ food and toilet needs attended to but “very little interaction or activity” for them. While Mrs Flanagan co-operated with inspections on four occasions between September 2009 and October 2010, she failed to provide plans of action to show how numerous deficits would be remedied.
A man who had epilepsy and suspected bleeding of the brain was left for five hours before being hospitalised after a fall. He later had four holes drilled in his skull at Beaumont Hospital to relieve pressure.
Inspectors only became aware of the fall, which should have been reported to the chief inspector at Hiqa, when looking for documentation to support claims that another woman had fallen twice. Ms Delaney Hynes said the decision not to immediately call an ambulance was “negligent” and expressed concerns at the lack of neurological observation while awaiting a doctor.
She and fellow inspector Carol Grogan acknowledged that most residents seemed happy there and rejected suggestions of bias against Mrs Flanagan.
HSE staff were installed following the court order at the end of October. New accommodation was sought for 13 residents when a risk assessment showed there was no safe way to evacuate them and staff in the event of an emergency.
Mrs Flanagan and her witnesses have yet to give evidence and the case was adjourned until December 2nd.