INSPECTORS HAVE uncovered “unacceptable practices” at a Co Clare nursing home, saying they are not satisfied the health and wellbeing of some residents are being well met.
However, the critical report by the Health Information and Quality Authority of the Lakes Nursing Home in Killaloe has prompted a strongly-worded response from the operator of the nursing home, the Elder Healthcare Group, which hit out at the fees paid under the Fair Deal scheme.
The group operates a number of nursing homes in the midwest, and in its response to the authority, group subsidiary Elder Nursing Homes Ltd said the report is “overly critical” and does not “reflect the level of good care being given to our residents and the improvements we have made throughout these past few months and will continue to make”.
The company said: “As with other nursing homes in the west of Ireland, our ability to promote change and increase care and other staff resources is a function of the Fair Deal fees granted to nursing homes in the midwest area, which are approximately 30 per cent less than those granted on the east coast of Ireland.”
The company adds: “The Fair Deal fee differential highlights the contradiction that national nursing homes standards apply equally to all nursing homes nationwide . . . homes in the east of the country are in a better financial position to fund the necessary care changes required under the new nursing homes standards compared to nursing homes in the west of the country by virtue of the higher Fair Deal fees being paid to them.”
The report on the Killaloe nursing home, which has a capacity for 57 residents, said: “Inspectors spoke with staff about the care of a resident with a catheter in place. Staff were not familiar with the care which should be provided and files notes suggested that catheter care had not been well managed by staff in the past.”
The report continued: “Some aspects of the management of the centre was disorganised, and this impacted on the service being delivered to the residents.
“During the inspection the centre had run out of clean bed sheets . . . The staff also told inspectors that they had recently run out of hygienic skin wipes for residents and that the stock was not replenished for a week.”
The report also found that “little had been done to create an interesting environment and provide meaningful stimulation for residents. There were long periods when there was very little social interaction for residents.”
It found inadequate specialist equipment – such as hoists and wheelchairs – and insufficient staff to meet residents’ needs.
The centre has put in place a plan in response to the shortcomings identified by the inspectors, with the Elder Healthcare Group stating that already 50 per cent of the actions required in the report have been completed, with a further 40 per cent to be completed within three months.
The company said it was “disappointed that the inspectors have not acknowledged the ongoing work and practice in the nursing home positively in this report”.
The company added: “We acknowledge that there are areas for improvement.
“However, we do not consider this report reflects the level of good care being given to our residents and the improvements we have made throughout these past few months and will continue to make.”
