The Southern Health Board is to introduce complaints procedures for its 19 community hospitals following an investigation into the treatment of patients at Killarney Community Hospital.
The SHB said last night it had "learned lessons" from the investigation into the hospital, which is run by the board.
The investigation was instigated after the board received complaints from an independent Kerry county councillor, Mr Brendan Cronin.
Mr Cronin yesterday welcomed the outcome of the investigation, which he said vindicated the families who had come forward. He said the report raised questions as to why the investigator, Ms Noreen Spillane, a director of nursing with the Mid-Western Health Board, had been unable to obtain sufficient records to allow her to investigate all the complaints fully.
He found it "quite frightening" that there was no documentation on the administration of medication to individual patients.
In a statement, the chief executive officer of the SHB, Mr Sean Hurley, said: "We have learned lessons from this extensive review and we will now be able to further improve the quality of care provided in all our community hospitals and continuing care facilities".
Killarney Community Hospital has 39 beds and is one of 19 community hospitals in Cork and Kerry. About 600 convalescent and short-stay patients are treated annually at the hospital.
The board is to spend £150,000 to improve hospital facilities. It will also recruit a ward sister to provide "a support to matron in the management of the hospital".
Staff will be provided with education and training where needed.
Mr Cronin yesterday praised Mr Hurley for setting up the investigation after receiving his complaints. He also praised the investigator for treating complainants "with dignity".
The report, given yesterday to complainants and the media, contains only a brief summary of the investigator's findings. Details of complaints have been summarised, the SHB says, in order to preserve confidentiality of patients.
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