RESIDENTS AT a Co Meath nursing home were at risk of hypothermia and staff working in its kitchen were exposed to leaking gas, according to a report published yesterday by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) .
Inspectors who visited Creevelea House in Laytown had significant concerns for the care and welfare of residents because of failure to ensure their general welfare and protection. They found there was a lack of suitable and sufficient care at the home and a lack of governance.
The private nursing home, operated by Peter Murphy, had 28 residents and 17 staff, and was closed by court order in July.
It was inspected by Hiqa on 17 occasions, beginning in March 2010, before it was closed down. The authority’s inspection reports were published yesterday.
On a visit in December, Hiqa found temperatures in the home’s bedrooms were below the minimum and boilers were on timers that switched on and off. The following day, seven residents’ temperatures were so low they were found to be at risk of hypothermia.
Inspectors were told the heating had been turned down because of concerns that residents might burn themselves. A GP was called to attend the seven residents and wool blankets and additional heaters were bought. Staff were ordered to turn up the heating and take the timers off.
Inspection reports show that between July and November 2010 there were 20 falls in the home and eight other accidents. Ten falls happened to two residents.
Inspectors also found the home had been broken into three times.
A gas leak was also found in the kitchen of the nursing home and a cooker was being used that did not cook food adequately.
An inspector was also told that one member of the kitchen team had been ill with vomiting and headaches because of the leak and had to leave work early. The cooker was eventually replaced and a later inspection noted how dirty the area was behind it.
Concerns had also been raised about money management at the home. It was found that the pensions of four residents were paid directly to the Creevelea House business bank account. The full amount of each of the residents’ pensions was being paid towards their fees. They were given no “comfort money”.
The report said inspectors were initially told of only one bank account but were later informed of a second account, called a “residents’ comfort monies account”.
This held funds sent from another agency to provide comfort money for two of the residents, but there was evidence that money had been taken out of this comfort fund and paid into the nursing home’s business account.
