AN INTERIM court order to close a private nursing home has been granted to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).
The Health Service Executive has taken over running Upton House Nursing Home on Kilbeggan Road, Clara, Co Offaly, after Hiqa was granted the order in Portlaoise District Court to deregister the nursing home.
The HSE will have to find appropriate alternative accommodation for the nursing home’s 14 elderly residents, seven of whom are high dependency.
It is the second time the health service watchdog has gone to court to close a nursing home.
In April, Hiqa was granted a court order to deregister Glenbervie Nursing Home in Bray, Co Wicklow, after serious concerns were raised for the health and welfare of its residents.
Upton House was opened in 1975
The home was inspected on four occasions and 107 breaches of regulations were identified. A detailed order plan was provided after the first three inspections, but the chief inspector maintained the order was not complied with and that no attempt to alleviate the inspector’s concerns had been made.
Several serious incidents were reported at the home. In one case a 95-year-old woman was hospitalised after she fell out of bed twice in one hour. She had suffered two fractured bones in her leg.
In a second case, a resident was found in an incoherent state beside his bed and did not see a doctor for five hours.
The incidents were not brought to the authorities’ attention. Hiqa also found the heating was not working properly and one male resident with no clothing on his upper torso was seen sitting on a commode when the temperature was 16 degrees.
Hiqa said yesterday: “Pursuant to sections 59 and 60 of the Health Act 2007, an interim order was made by the District Court in Portlaoise . . . on 28 October 2010 cancelling the registration of Upton House Nursing Home, Kilbeggan Road, Clara, Co Offaly, as a designated centre under part 8 of the Health Act 2007, with effect from 7pm on 28 October 2010.
“In accordance with section 64 of the Health Act 2007 the HSE was directed to take charge of Upton House nursing home from such time and to make alternative arrangements for the residents of Upton House nursing home as soon as practicable.
“The matter is still before the courts and at this time Hiqa will not be making any public comment or statements until all legal proceedings have concluded.”
Under section 59 of the Act, the health service watchdog can seek a court order to cancel a nursing home’s registration “if the chief inspector believes . . . there is a risk to the life, or a serious risk to the health or welfare of the persons resident” in a home.
The District Court decision may be appealed.
Last December, a report on the home found the building’s fabric to be in poor repair, the standard of cleaning was seriously deficient and no activity or recreational programme for residents existed. More dependent residents were observed sitting for long periods with no stimulation or meaningful engagement. The report also noted evidence of some good practice in nursing care. There were sufficient staff and all residents said they enjoyed the food.