HEALTH SERVICE inspectors have released a broadly positive report into care standards at a public nursing home in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, which authorities tried to close last year.
The Health Service Executive announced plans last November to close the 33-bed nursing home, citing difficulties meeting standards for the health service watchdog the Health Information and Quality Authority.
However, following an unannounced inspection in January of this year, inspectors were satisfied that residents’ nursing and healthcare needs were being met. They found significant progress across areas such as staffing and risk-management policies.
“With the reduction in bed numbers, staffing levels were now considered sufficient. Fire safety and risk-management issues had been addressed. Improvements were noted in the medication management systems, and all required policies were in place,” the report states.
Inspectors had reported in February of 2011 that they were satisfied that residents’ nursing and healthcare needs were being met. However, they voiced concerns over the ratio of staff to residents which, they said, was not adequate due to the majority of residents being assessed as maximum dependency.
In the latest report inspectors say these issues have been addressed due mainly to a reduction in bed numbers. “Staff spoken with confirmed that they now had sufficient time to address the health, social and psychological need of residents.”
The HSE announced last November it would close the unit because of funding and staffing issues and envisaged future problems in meeting authority standards. It said the capacity to deliver a safe service was “not possible in view of the reducing financial allocations” across the HSE.
At the time HSE Midlands area manager Joseph Ruane said a decision to close the nursing unit had not been taken easily, and all alternative options had been considered.
A subsequent legal challenge was resolved when the HSE agreed to quash the closure order and begin consultation on the closure proposal.
