An independent inspection of a private nursing home in Offaly has found that there was no person in charge when inspectors called and that care assistants with no formal qualifications provided most of the care.
Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority conducted an announced inspection of Gallen Priory private nursing home, Main Street, Ferbane in mid-August.
The report of the visit, published on the HIQA website, says the inspection was undertaken as a result of information received about poor nutrition in the centre. (Read the report)
43 residents were in the home, which was found not to be compliance with the Health Act 2007 in several areas.
The building was old and unsafe for residents to walk or wander around.
Most of the nursing staff had no specialist training in care of older people and the monitoring and documentation of nutritional information failed to meet regulations.
Infection control was inadequate and the standard of cleanliness was unacceptable.
The supply of hot water was interrupted in the afternoons.
There was a group of frail, older people and people with disabilities on the first floor who did not have opportunities for social engagement and had little to stimulate or occupy them. They spent their day in a large day room with a lack of supervision for extended periods.
The owner of the nursing home said this afternoon that the retirement of the former nurse manager at the Gallen Priory Nursing Home in June last year was one of the main reasons that problems were encountered when the inspectors visited in mid August.
Jim McCrystal rejected the inspectors' finding that elderly and frail patients with disabilities on the first floor did not have opportunities for social engagement.
He said that Gallen had two people employed to provide ongoing activities such as art work, bingo and card playing, but some patients did not participate because of their frailty, and this was their prerogative.
Mr McCrystal rejected suggestions that the building was too old to be used as a nursing home. He said he was satisfied it was safe for the patients, and a gate had now been placed on the stairs to ensure there was no risk for patients who were wandering around.
Mr McCrystal said the complaints that had been made were the first since he took over the nursing home.
He said that the residential care centre will not be closing down because it is providing some of the best standards of care to the elderly in the midlands.
After a follow-up unannounced inspection last month, inspectors said improvements had been made, the standard of cleanliness was acceptable and arrangements had been put in place for a staff nurse to act as a person in charge. (Read the follow-up report)
