HSE takes over nursing home

The Health Service Executive has taken over the running of a nursing home in Co Leitrim following an announcement by its operator that it would be closed.

Mullross Nursing Home in Kilclare, Carrick-on-Shannon was taken over at 4.30pm today after discussions with the home’s registered provider and the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).

It will be operated on an interim basis by the HSE until an alternative registered provider can be found, Hiqa said this evening. It added that residents will not have to leave the home.

Mullross, which has 30 residents, has operated as a nursing home since 1995 and was taken over and renovated by current registered provider Stephen Buckley in late 2008.

At the end of December, Mr Buckley wrote to residents informing them the home was to be closed and residents would have to move to alternative accommodation.

He had said he would be unable to comply with some aspects of health legislation, coming into effect in January 2014.

The home had been inspected by Hiqa on a number of occasions in connection with its registration.

An inspection by the authority in May last year found the home did not comply with some requirements including procedures around the management of medicines, administration of staffing and recruitment and the maintenance of records.

In a statement this evening following talks with Mr Buckley and the HSE, a spokeswoman for Hiqa said Mr Buckley had notified the authority that he had “accepted the decision of the authority to cancel his registration as the registered provider” of Mullross Nursing Home, under section 51 of the Health Act 2007.

The authority, “acting in the public interest and in the interest of the health, safety and quality of life of the residents”, had agreed the HSE would take charge of the home with the full co-operation of Mr Buckley.

“Hiqa has asked the HSE to make alternative arrangements for the management of the nursing home as soon as practicable,” the spokeswoman said.

“During this time the authority will maintain its statutory role in assessing the quality and safety of the services provided to the residents.”

A spokeswoman for the nursing home said they would be making no comment.