A Co Laois nursing home put residents at significant risk of harm by not consistently catering to the dietary needs of those who were at risk of choking or had impaired swallowing, according to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
An unannounced nighttime inspection of Droimnin Nursing Home in Stradbally also found residents asleep on chairs in communal areas with requests for staff assistance to go bed not provided.
Droimnin Nursing Home featured in an RTÉ Investigates programme last year on standards of care in a number of residential facilities.
In its report published today HIQA said the overall management of the nursing home was "ineffective" and that the oversight of the quality and safety of the care provided to residents was poor, leaving a number of residents consistently receiving substandard care.
Inspections took place over four days within a two week period in early September due to what HIQA described as a "significant and serious concerns regarding the safety and welfare of residents living in the centre".
HIQA said that "the registered provider failed to provide appropriate medical and health care" and "failed to take reasonable measures to protect residents from abuse".
It said "the food provided to residents was not wholesome and nutritious, nor did it reflect the prescriptions of health care professionals".
The report said there was a failure to deliver food and nutrition to residents in line with regulatory requirements.
"Several residents who were prescribed therapeutic diets, tailored to their specific medical conditions, such as renal or diabetic diets, did not receive meals in line with their assessed needs.
"In addition, residents who were at risk of choking or had impaired swallowing and were prescribed modified-consistency diets did not consistently receive meals in accordance with these prescriptions."
HIQA said "this placed those residents at significant risk of harm".
The report said residents were observed sleeping in chairs in communal areas or calling staff for assistance to go to bed at night "despite their care plans specifying that they should be assisted to bed and highlighting the importance of restful sleep".
HIQA said "the management structure was inconsistent and unclear" and the registered provider had failed to appoint a person in charge since 31 July 2025.
In a statement today, HIQA said that "as a result of the significant risk to the life, health and welfare of residents, on 12 September 2025, under Section 59 of the Health Act 2007, the Chief Inspector made an application to the District Court to cancel the registration of the designated centre".
A court date was scheduled for November 2025 but on 11 November HIQA's Chief Inspector of Social Services agreed to the adjournment of the application until 3 February 2026.
This was subject to "the attachment of additional conditions to the registration of the nursing home together with a number of agreed actions on the part of the provider designed to improve the health and welfare of residents of the nursing home", HIQA said.
HIQA also published a further 47 reports today showing 25 centres were either fully compliant or substantially compliant with the regulations.
Residents in Dublin care centre had no access to safe supply of drinking water - HIQA
HIQA has found that residents of a Co Dublin care centre did not have access to a safe supply of fresh drinking water at all times.
The centre, Tara Winthrop Private Clinic, near Swords, had 118 residents at the time of the inspection last August.
The clinic provides nursing care for residents over the age of 18 ranging from low to maximum dependency.
Inspectors found that while staff refilled water jugs in bedrooms, there was no accessible supply of fresh drinking water available to residents of two of the units on the first evening of the two day inspection.
It said this was brought to the provider's attention and drinking water was seen in the communal areas during the second day.
The report also said that inspectors "were not assured" that residents were provided with adequate quantities of food and drink which were wholesome and nutritious. It said "immediate actions" were issued which the provider addressed by the end of the inspection.
The report noted that the "overall feedback" from residents was that they were "content" living there, but there were a "number of factors" which negatively impacted their day-to-day lives.
Residents, while acknowledging the positive attributes for individual staff, also told inspectors there were not enough.
The inspection said that "significant focus" was required to improve the management and oversight, noting there had been a "substanial decline" in regulatory compliance since the previous inspection in November 2024. It said the improvements found in that inspection "have not been sustained".
Inspectors found while some communal spaces were accessible and comfortable, others contained damaged furniture.
They also found that a room designed to provide a "comfortable, multi sensory" environment for agitated residents was not fit for purpose.
It found that the unit which catered for residents with complex needs, including dementia, was not to an acceptable standard.
Inspectors said there was evidence that the providers had sought consultation about the improvement of communal areas and said while this was positive, action was now required.
Inspectors also found that residents were seen smoking in a number of outdoor areas and that safety equipment was not present. After being informed, management was seen installing the necessary equipment on the second day of inspection.
It also noted that residents were seen sitting with the TV on, but without any other meaningful activity.
The report also found the owners had engaged with external staff to guide the improvement of activities for the residents.
It found that records provided "did not evidence" that all staff had completed training on safeguarding vulnerable people from abuse, fire safety, manual handling, and medication management.
It also found that not all notifiable incidents concerning alleged neglect and the use of restraint had been notified to the Chief Inspector as required by regulations.
The report also stated that staff were respectful and courteous towards residents.
