Over 11,000 safety risks raised with Hiqa in 2015

Over 11,000 potential health or safety risks about nursing homes and centres for people with intellectual disabilities were received last year by the State’s health watchdog.

The Health Information and Quality Authority said it received 10,572 regulatory notifications about older people in residential care, including 6,187 that related to potential risks to their health, safety or wellbeing.

It also received 516 concerns relating to the services provided to older people. These related to issues such as suitable staffing, health needs, safety, management, suitability of premises and resident rights.

The authority said it received 11,088 regulatory notifications about people with intellectual disability living in residential care, including 4,896 relating to potential risks to their health, safety or wellbeing.

It also received 189 concerns about the care and support of people with disabilities. The issues raised included resident rights, governance and management, admissions and workforce.

The number of concerns about healthcare services received by the authority increased by 15 per cent last year, according to the 2015 annual report.

The authority carried out over 400 inspections of nursing homes during 2015. Chairman Brian McEnery expressed disappointment that “critical environmental standards” have not yet been met in some homes but welcomed the Government’s commitment to invest in public nursing homes and to bring them up to the required standards.

The inspection of over 100 children’s centres has raised a number of concerns about the inconsistency of care provided, he said.

Hiqa said 1,175 items of concern were disclosed to it during the year by workers, people who use services and other people.

These concerns were logged and used to inform the most appropriate intervention by the authority. One disclosure from a staff member is being handled under protected disclosure legislation.

The authority itself attracted nine complaints and said eight of these were “resolved” during the year.