An inspection of a Monaghan nursing home has found a 'lack of oversight' led to a number of non-compliance issues during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mullinahinch Private Nursing Home was found to have a number of staff posts were vacant and there were 'no clear systems in place to monitor some areas of practice'.
HIQA inspected two local nursing homes in June, Mullinahinch on the 18th and Castleross Nursing Home on the 25th and 26th.
In Mullinahinch inspectors found a change in directors and management since the end of last year meant a number of management roles were vacant - assistant director of nursing and two clinical nurse managers.
The new management team had taken up their posts just four months ahead of the beginning of the pandemic.
Inspectors said staff had a good understanding of Covid-19, with a number of staff members contracting the virus. They also found staff had a good relationship with residents but some had described there being a “palpable sense of loss” and it being a “heart-breaking time”.
Inspectors found four areas of non-compliance on their visit.
The management team did not have effective oversight of the quality of care being delivered to residents with ineffective communication, the complaints procedure for residents or family members was not clear, a number of policies had not been updated to reflect the current guidance and the risk register had not been updated.
In response, management has outlined how it is addressing the non-compliance issues raised.
Separately, HIQA inspected Castleross Nursing Home in Carrickmacross after “information of concern” was submitted to its Chief Inspector.
The inspection followed an outbreak of Covid-19 at the centre but staff were found to have a good understanding of the situation and good planning and preparedness had been undertaken.
One non-compliance was found in relation to policies and procedures not being updated in line with the current guidance on infection prevention and control.
