Nineteen nursing home inspection reports published online by the Health Service Executive (HSE) have revealed that inspectors raised concerns last July about a clinical waste refuse bag hanging from a tap of an MRSA-positive patient's bedroom in one home in Co Galway.
The reports, which appeared on the HSE website last night and which date from last June 26th, reveal that most of the institutions inspected were passed or had only minor issues highlighted.
However, an inspection of the Holy Family nursing home in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, on July 3rd notes that "a large yellow clinical waste plastic refuse bag was found hanging from the hot water tap to the wash-hand basin in bedroom". The inspector was also advised that the resident of the bedroom was MRSA positive.
Hand-washing was impossible "owing to the fact that one had to place one's hand in the open contaminated refuse bag in order to turn on the hot was tap".
Among the required actions were for the "entire cleaning programme" for the nursing home to be reviewed. The HSE was subsequently informed that all breaches had been corrected.
Our Lady of Fatima nursing home in Tralee, Co Kerry, had insufficient staffing levels, particularly at night, despite having many high to maximum-dependency residents.
"More staff should be rostered for evening and night times. This has previously been brought to the attention of the nurse in charge and the proprietors."
Inspectors also note the use of physical restraints at Our Lady of Fatima home and recommend that the use of "Buxton" physical restraint chairs by the nursing home's staff be encouraged to be kept to an "absolute minimum."
The uneven driveway, dirty carpets, fixtures and fittings in St Anne's nursing home in Woodford, Galway, are highlighted.
Inspectors note the poor state of repair of parts of the building, many of which issues they state have "previously been brought to your attention and must be completed forthwith".
While Queen of Peace nursing home in Knock, Co Mayo, was generally found to have complied with regulations, its report notes the risk of "sewer gases" entering through the lack of use of waste traps on the facilities in a bathroom being used as a store.
The newly-published reports provide the first insight into what can be expected from the new standardised inspection process agreed by the HSE with various stakeholders.