The Health Information and Quality Authority have found a number of non-compliances at Donegal healthcare facilities in their latest reports.
HIQA inspectors have published their findings from visits to a Donegal care home and two community hospitals – Dungloe Community Hospital, Ramelton Community Hospital and the Sisters of Nazareth house in Fahan.
Dungloe Community Hospital had an unannounced inspection on 9th July 2019.
Residents of the hospital and relatives were highly complimentary of the staff and were satisfied with the activities available. Some called it a ‘home from home’ and relatives said that they were confident that residents were well cared for and well looked after.
The hospital, which can accommodate 33 residents, had five non-compliances.
The inspector found that the numbers and skill mix of staff were not appropriate to meet the needs of the residents in the centre.
“There was a large number of staffing vacancies at the time of inspection, which impacted on staff’s ability to deliver quality care,” they said.
Other non-compliances were found in care planning and care planning documentation, governance and management of the centre and in the directory of residents, as a newly-introduced system did not meet the regulatory requirements.
The inspector noted a lack of notification of serious incidents at the hospital but said that safeguarding process had been adequately followed and where a serious incident occurred, there were effective governance arrangements to ensure the safety and welfare of residents could be maintained.
An unannounced Dementia Care Thematic Inspection was carried out at Ramelton Community Hospital in April 2019.
Four non-compliances were reported out of eleven. The inspector noted several improvements in the centre for the care of patients with dementia. However, they said that the designated centre did not meet the needs of residents, as facilities were also being used by patients who were attending the day care hospital and this compromised residents’ right to privacy, choice and potential safety.
The inspector found that staff did not have up-to-date mandatory training, but was told that training dates had been scheduled.
It was also noted that there were some good dementia-friendly features but in general the environment for residents was not regarded as a therapeutic resource for residents with dementia.
The Sisters of Nazareth house in Fahan, which accommodates 48 residents, was had a pre-planned inspection in June. Feedback from residents’ questionnaires was ‘overwhelmingly positive’, the report said.
The inspector found that it was an overall good centre with good governance and management structures in place to deliver service to the residents.
However, further improvements were required in relation to medicine management systems, infection control practices and premises to ensure compliance and maintain the quality and safety of the service. This was the only non-compliance identified at Nazareth House.
In all centres, a number of recommendations were given to improve on the non-compliances of the Health Act 2007.
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