A newly released HIQA report has highlighted serious concerns over staffing levels at Regional Hospital Mullingar. An inspection conducted in October last year found four of the nine executive management positions were unfilled and had the potential to affect future governance and healthcare delivery.
The inspection found overall that the hospital was compliant or substantially compliant with seven national standards, partially compliant with three and non-compliant with one. The high level vacancies included quality and patient safety manager, director of midwifery, operations and clinical services manager and a human resources manager.
The inspectors also noted a 13% shortfall in nursing staff, a 20% shortfall in midwifery staff and 13% in healthcare assistant staff. These shortcomings were managed in the short-term through staff redeployment and the use of agency staff. While funding was in place for a certain number of staff, there was a significant difference in the funded and actual number of staff in managerial, nursing and midwifery positions.
Overall, the report found hospital management and staff promoted a culture of kindness, consideration and respect for people accessing and receiving care. When examining the Emergency Department, inspectors noted that while patients privacy and dignity was supported in inpatient areas, but the same in the ED required significant improvement.
The hospital was not compliant with the majority of the HSE’s PETs in relation to ED performance. The HSE confirmed in it's response to HIQA that the majority of senior positions would be filled at the hospital in the coming months.
They also submitted a detailed response plan to address other issues raised in the inspection.
