Inspectors find failure to vet staff put patients at risk

INDEPENDENT HEALTH inspectors have stated that the safety of elderly patients at a Co Clare community hospital has been put at risk as Garda vetting was not obtained by the hospital for regular cleaning staff at the facility.

That is one of the findings in a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority into the 116-bed Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice in Ennis, which found cleaning staff provided to the hospital by an external agency did not have Garda vetting.

The inspectors said “the measures were not in place to ensure that contract staff were fit and suitable to work in the centre”.

The cleaning staff are employed by an external contractor and in response to the finding, the hospital has stated that “Garda Síochána vetting has been processed for all contract cleaning staff”.

However, it stated: “Significant improvement was required in the management of medication and the use of restraint. The provision of activities also required significant improvement, particularly for residents of higher dependency and those with dementia-related conditions.

It adds: “The physical environment in the older part of the building provided a significant challenge to comply with the regulations and standards. Parts of the building were not well maintained and the enclosed gardens were in a poor condition.”

In response, hospital manager Paul O’Halloran said the report recognised the work done at the hospital. He said the hospital would announce details of a redevelopment programme for the hospital building this month.