Kilkenny nursing homes record largely positive findings

Archersrath Nursing Home and St Gabriel’s Ward at St Canice’s Hospital in Kilkenny have both been deemed high standard facilities according to the most recent HIQA and Mental Health Commission reports respectively.

On Wednesday, October 25, an unannounced HIQA inspection took place at Archersrath Nursing Home. The report, which was publicly released earlier this month, stated the facility had a clear commitment to provide a 'person centred care to residents based on their needs and abilities'.

The report also found residents had a 'good quality of life' in a 'homely and clean' atmosphere.

The local facility was deemed to have ‘good governance structures’ overall with ‘adequate’ supervision, meals and activities available.

The necessary space for storage, safety facilities, family meeting centres and complaints procedures were also provided.

St Gabriel’s Ward, on the grounds of St Canice’s Hospital, accommodates residents who require short and long term mental-health and psychiatric supports.

According to the 2023 Mental Health Commission Report, the Kilkenny unit had a compliance rate of 97%, an increase of 3% on 2022.

Cleanliness, fire safety and infection control were among the issues inspected with no major concerns highlighted. However, the report did outline concern that no documented evidence that the pharmacist was consulted about the type of preparation to be used when crushed medications were prescribed to patients and deemed non-compliant in the report.

The local facility scored highly in the other categories assessed including patient-staff engagement, the caring for patient’s personal belongings and food safety.