Hiqa report reveals 'unacceptable practices'

A RECENT inspection into a HSE-run nursing home for elderly people in Co Dublin found a lack of safety procedures were putting residents’ lives at risk.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) inspection into the Dalkey Community Unit for Older Persons revealed a number of “unacceptable practices” at the centre.

Among the concerns noted by inspectors who visited the centre in September were a lack of emergency evacuation measures and a failure to properly vet staff.

Hiqa inspectors said “significant improvements’’ were required for the unit to meet the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009.

A particular cause of concern outlined in Hiqa’s report was a lack of emergency procedures at the centre.

According to the report, while fire equipment was checked and serviced regularly, just 38 per cent of staff working there had received fire training and there was no evidence that a fire drill had been carried out since the previous year.

Hiqa personnel concluded that most of the staff at the unit were unaware of evacuation procedures and said that there was no evidence of a system of learning from accidents at the unit.

The report found that residents with dementia and other cognitive impairments were not included in general activities and were left sitting for long periods.

Hiqa inspectors also concluded that there was not always an adequate choice of food and that many residents were not satisfied with what was offered to them.

Among other concerns highlighted at the centre, which has 50 residential places and a day-care unit, was a shortage of call bells for residents to request help and a lack of space within the dining room which meant more dependent residents were separated from the main dining area. Inspectors also witnessed some residents being brought to their meals in shower chairs.

Hiqa inspectors also found that at least eight staff members working at the centre had not been vetted by the Garda, as required under legislation.

The centre said that following Hiqa’s inspection it had taken a number of steps to improve procedures at the unit including introducing regular fire drills and implementing a risk management policy.

It added that it was also in the process of introducing a new nursing care plan which would be completed by next month.