A Hiqa inspection has found concerns around infection control at a Roscommon nursing home.
Eight non-compliances were recorded at the Oakwood private nursing home in Roscommon town following an inspection earlier this year.
This unannounced inspection took place across two days in January of this year, shortly after a Covid outbreak was notified to the authorities.
Three cases were detected at the time of the inspection, and inspectors noticed that there was crossover between staff caring for Covid positive patients, and those who had tested negative, with HIQA describing the arrangement as "less than ideal".
Inspectors complimented the professionalism and dedication of staff and the social care of residents was noted as being of a high standard
Hiqa described the centre as visibly clean, but it was not assured that it was "hygienically" clean with issues highlighted including equipment, the disposal of incontinence wear in an open bin in a resident's room and barriers to hand hygiene.
The centre had been previously inspected in November of 2021 when a number of non-compliances were also recorded, but HIQA noted that "significant improvements" were still required across several regulations inspected including infection control, health care, residents' rights and fire safety precautions.
Hiqa also noted concerns over the levels of staffing at the facility to meet residents' needs with nursing levels described as "low" with one nurse working at night for a total of 56 residents from 9pm until 8am.
Residents' needs were also "poorly assessed" and documentation of resident's care was also described as "poor".
Responding to the report, management issued the following statement:
"As can be seen, this Hiqa inspection took place in early January as efforts were continuing to implement recommendations, mainly in the areas of governance and administration, from a previous Hiqa inspection last November.
However, the January inspection also coincided with the first outbreak of Covid-19 infection at Oakwood since the pandemic began in Ireland over two years ago. That success in avoiding the more serious phase of the pandemic was down to care and dedication of a committed staff, the co-operation of all our residents and, in particular, the assistance of their families who abided by strict guidelines throughout.
The arrival of the Omicron variant at Oakwood last January affected the pace of implementation of Hiqa recommendations from the November inspection, to which we are fully committed."
The full report can be read here:
