Hiqa orders unit for people with disabilities to cease admissions

A HSE-run care unit for people with disabilities has been directed by the State’s health watchdog to cease admissions after it was found to be in breach of health and safety requirements.

Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) conducted an unannounced inspection of St Peter’s Services in Castleview, Co Westmeath, on September 17th and found “major non-compliance” in relation to a number of regulations.

The inspectors said that, where nursing care was required, it was “not provided”.

They also found that adequate management systems were “not in place” to ensure the services provided were safe and appropriate to residents’ needs.

They said that there were “insufficient systems” in the centre for the assessment, management and ongoing review of risk, including the system for responding to emergencies.

An incident occurred on the day prior to the inspection where a resident fell while using a wheelchair.

The resident in question was using the same wheelchair the following day, despite it not having been assessed for safe use.

The inspectors said that residents were not provided with opportunities to participate in activities in accordance with their interests, capabilities and developmental needs.

‘Unsolicited information’

Hiqa also said it received “unsolicited information” in April which highlighted concerns in relation to the protection of residents from harm or suffering abuse.

Management informed the inspectors that they had received no complaints.

The inspectors said that the centre was “not resourced” to ensure the effective delivery of care and support, and the number of staff, both day and night, was “not appropriate” to the number of residents and the size of the centre.

During a post-inspection feedback meeting, management acknowledged the difficulties in staffing the centre.

The inspectors said it was agreed that there would be no admissions to the centre until “a stable nursing and non-nursing staff was consistently in place”.