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Persistent staffing problems identified at Donegal nursing home

A lack of dedicated cleaning staff meant some residents’ facilities were ‘heavily soiled’, HIQA found.

AN INAPPROPRIATE MIX of staff, poor management of patients experiencing weight loss, and inadequate attention paid to the dignity of deceased residents have been highlighted as issues to be addressed in the latest HIQA report into the state-run Carndonagh nursing home in Co Donegal.

Inspectors found that no action had been taken to address the ‘significant risk’ posed by poor hygiene standards during an unannounced visit in April of this year. Their report says that the problem was caused by an inappropriate mix of staff, and states that the person in charge had persistently failed to address the issue despite it being noted  in the health watchdog’s previous report in October of last year.

The report says there were no dedicated cleaning staff, meaning staff on-duty at the time of the inspection had to multitask between care, cleaning and catering:

However, the care needs of residents were a priority resulting in prevailing poor hygiene standards and significant risks as the inspectors found residents equipment such as commodes to be heavily soiled.

Five of the 40 patients in the home had experienced unexplained weight-loss, the inspectors found, but no action to investigate why or to mitigate the loss had been identified in their care plans. Residents who were losing weight were “not monitored systematically and some had not been weighed for some time”.

Under the heading of ‘End of Life Care’ the inspectors saw that one residents’ possessions were being tidied away for collection in plastic bags and boxes which did not “reflect best practice for the maintenance of dignity” as more appropriate containers were available.

11 of the home’s residents were in the dementia care unit at the time the inspection was carried out. 34 of the 40 residents were described as having ‘maximum care needs’, and a further five were assessed as having ‘high dependency’ needs.

The April 10 visit was the seventh inspection of the centre undertaken by HIQA, and was staged to assess how failures addressed in previous action plans were being addressed.

Read: “Excessive and problematic” drinking by nursing home residents >

Read: Watchdog to inspect disability centres for the first time >

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8 Comments
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    Mute oliolioliiii
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    Jun 20th 2013, 2:27 PM

    This is very sad. Ireland has a long way to go in providing the level of care that our most vulnerable citizens deserve. As someone who is working in this area I can say that there are some amazing places out there with very effective and working systems in place. It should be like this across the board.

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    Mute Laura
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    Jun 20th 2013, 3:14 PM

    Agreed. This makes me unnervingly sad. I work in nursing and have been to some really wonderful nursing homes. I would feel horrid if I had a loved one living in conditions like this.

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    Mute hsianloon
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    Jun 20th 2013, 5:24 PM

    Would be nice if some families took care of their own. Just saying. Not all residents in nursing homes require full support all the time. It’s just become common in Ireland to toss your parents in if you tire of them or their health problems aren’t in line with your ideal lifestyle.

    Try ringing some of the family contact numbers of nursing home residents, you’ll be surprised how well they ignore calls.

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    Mute Laura
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    Jun 20th 2013, 5:58 PM

    Incredibly ignorant comment. I work in this area, I have plenty of experience so please, don’t start mouthing off nonsense.

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    Mute hsianloon
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    Jun 20th 2013, 8:26 PM

    Think you’re the only person who works in healthcare? Rose tinted glasses if you believe there are old people who aren’t abandoned by their families

    When there are facilities available.. there will be people who use them for their own means.

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    Mute Laura
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    Jun 21st 2013, 5:33 AM

    There are also people who abandon their families in their own homes. but I’m sure you knew that already

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    Mute Willie Bill Bryan
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    Jun 20th 2013, 5:09 PM

    Which HSE employed manager will be fired for this failure sorry systems failure !!! If it was a private run home heads would role processions brought and rightly so !! Hard for colleagues to critique others ???

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    Mute Dora SEO
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    Feb 25th 2017, 8:53 PM

    Love to read it,Waiting For More new Update and I Already Read your Recent Post its Great Thanks. staffing companies

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