Standards at Leitrim home criticised

A report by the Health Information and Quality Authority has severely criticised standards at a privately-run nursing home in Co Leitrim.

Mullross nursing home in Kilclare, which was taken over by the HSE earlier this month, has since closed.

An inspection report published today refers to the presence of “do not resuscitate” notices in some residents’ files, but says there was no evidence that the home discussed this with residents or their families.

Hiqa said the system in place at the home, which catered for 30 residents and had 32 staff, increased the risk of medical errors.

It said no person was in charge from September 2011 until May 2012. The person who then took up the job resigned during an unannounced inspection by Hiqa in December.

Inspectors found that there were significant care and welfare issues regarding the provision of care to residents which posed a serious risk to residents.

These included nutritional monitoring, recording of medical consultations, medication reviews and wound management.

The management of a resident with a pressure ulcer was not in line with evidence-based practice. Many residents had not been weighed recently even though they had been losing weight and were on nutritional supplements.

Inspectors noted that carers had reported unexplained bruising to a resident’s arm in a care file. In another instance, a photograph of wounds could not be taken to monitor care due to a dead battery in the camera, while another resident was not monitored after having an epileptic seizure.

The home, which operated since 1987, was inspected seven times. There was local interest in keeping the facility open under another operators but it has since been decided that it will remain shut.