Missing key and infection control raised in Limerick nursing home report
A HIQA inspection raised concerns over a missing key for a fire escape door, and infection control in a county Limerick nursing home during an unannounced inspection.
The visit to Marie Goretti Nursing Home in Kilmallock by a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspector took place on June 21. The centre accommodated 57 residents in both single, and multi-occupancy bedrooms on the day.
It was found that Marie Goretti Nursing Home was compliant in 10 of 13 categories. The report said they were substantially compliant with fire precautions and not compliant with regard to governance and management, and infection control.
Arrangements for providing adequate means of escape including emergency lighting required improvement. “The emergency escapes at the end of two corridors required a key to unlock the escape doors. However, there was no key in place for one set of fire escape doors. This created a risk whereby residents attempting to escape during a fire would be prevented from doing so,” reads the report.
The care environment and equipment was not managed in a way that minimised the risk of transmitting a healthcare-associated infection, said the inspector.
“This was evidenced by the communal dayroom, store rooms, housekeeping store room, and the sluice room were not cleaned to an acceptable standard.
“Protective coverings over radiator pipes were visibly unclean. Ineffective cleaning increased the risk of cross infection.
Wooden features such as the dayroom floor, handrails, and skirting, were visibly damaged and could not be effectively cleaned.
“Hand wash sinks in the sluice room, laundry, housekeeping store room, and in the clinical room did not comply with the recommended specifications for clinical hand wash sinks. Equipment such as toilet seat raisers, and urinals, were stored on the floor in sluice room. This increased the risk of cross contamination,” reads the report.
On governance and management, the report said the provider had not ensured that there were sufficient staffing resources in place to maintain planned nursing staff levels.
“Consequently, the nursing management were required to cover vacant nursing shifts as a result of planned,” reads the report.
Residents of Marie Goretti Nursing Home told the inspector that the centre was a “safe” and “homely” place to live, and attributed this to the friendly relationships they had formed with other residents and staff.
Residents were satisfied with the quality of care they received, and described how staff supported them to be independent, and feel part of their community.
“There was a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the centre. Residents were observed enjoying each other's company in a variety of communal areas such as the dayroom, and dining room,” read the report.
released this week.