Michael McHale , 2025-08-29 07:35:00
Tinnypark Nursing Home in Derdimus, Kilkenny found non-compliant in ten areas, while eight breaches were uncovered in Beech Lodge, Bruree, Limerick, and seven in St Camillus Nursing Centre, Killucan, Westmeath
Visibly unclean kitchen equipment and large pieces of dirt under residents’ beds were among the findings uncovered in an inspection of a nursing home in Kilkenny.
The Health Information and Quality Authority found that Tinnypark Nursing Home on Callan Road in Kilkenny was in breach of ten regulations, which included infection control, staff training and development, and the notification of incidents.
“The oversight of cleanliness and infection control required significant review to minimise the risk of transmitting a healthcare-associated infection,” the inspection found.
Inspectors said they were ‘not assured’ that food was properly and safely prepared, cooked and served.
“The kitchen environment, kitchen equipment, including cooking and serving utensils, and residents’ crockery and utensils were observed to be unclean,” the report said. They added that food was not stored ‘in line with best guidance, while nutritional supplements were not securely kept.
A kitchen preparation room was being used to store armchairs and dining chairs, while the sink there was ‘visibly dirty and had black staining’. An ensuite facility also being used as storage had similar issues, with water in sink taps running brown. Another store room had so many boxes that it blocked emergency exits.
Inspectors noted that the review followed up on voluntary disclosures to the Chief Inspector of Social Services, which highlighted concerns around staffing, governance, fire safety, premises upkeep, hygiene, food and resident care.
A random sample of four residents’ records found that ‘significant action’ was required to ensure each was adequately assessed. One resident found to be at medium risk of malnutrition did not have a nutrition care plan, while another with a diagnosed skin condition did not have a skincare plan.
A resident who required support with personal intimate care did not have an associated care plan, while another who had fallen did not have their falls prevention care plan updated until 10 days after they returned from the hospital.
The inspection found that a number of communal areas that were ‘visibly unclean’ and needed maintenance. Loose wiring was seen hanging from the wall of a parlour in the home, while inspectors noticed a ‘sharp maintenance tool’ lying on a radiator cover.
While the review was unannounced, it did take place over two days – an evening inspection initially, with inspectors returning the following day.
Laundry facilities were deemed ‘inadequate’, with 16 linen bags found to be awaiting laundering on the first day of the review. Three of six washing machines in the laundry room had a sign that said ‘out of order’, with two of these containing residents’ clothing.
On the second day of the review, an external service had been found to complete the remaining laundry, while two of the three machines previously labelled out of order were working.
A sample of staff spoken to said that had not received training on how to manage challenging behaviour from residents. Inspectors found one instance where the centre’s usage of restraint, specifically bed rails, was not in line with national policy.
Overall, residents told inspectors that they were content and felt safe while living in the home. However, they added that many of the issues uncovered in the inspection did impact their day-to-day lives.
Efforts were made to address issues found on the first day of the inspection – such as the condition of the kitchen – on the second day, with extra cleaning staff deployed.
The nursing home, which had 39 residents at the time of inspection, was one of 46 facilities for which reports were published by HIQA yesterday.
Levels of non-compliance varied among the reports, with 13 centres non-compliant with three regulations or less, and 10 centres non-compliant with four or more regulations.
Beech Lodge Care Facility in Bruree, Limerick, was found non-compliant in eight areas, including staffing, records, complaints procedure and governance.
Inspectors found that residents were not fully protected from financial abuse.
“Records reviewed evidenced that a number of weekly payments from the Department of Social Protection for one resident was deposited into the operating bank account of the registered provider,” inspectors said.
“The registered provider failed to ensure that these monies were received into an account which had been set up for this purpose, separate and distinct from the operating bank account of the designated centre.
“Although records demonstrated that the provider had taken some action to address this issue this had not been corrected at the time of inspection.”
St Camillus Nursing Centre in Killucan, Westmeath, was non-compliant with seven regulations, including medicines and pharmaceutical services, residents’ rights, individual care plans, and managing challenging behaviour.
The report noted nurses administering medications ‘in a crushed format’, despite this not being directed by the prescriber.
Multi-dose liquid medications observed by inspectors did not have a date of opening recorded on them, which raised concerns that they might be used beyond the period where it was deemed safe to do so.