Major fire risks highlighted at Donegal nursing home

A Donegal health care provider has been found non-compliant with fire safety regulations following an inspection.

A health information and quality authority (HIQA) inspection of Falcarragh Community Hospital found that the centre was non-compliant with three regulations.

Falcarragh Community Hospital is registered to provide care to 27 male and female residents over the age of 18 and accommodates residents from the local area, including Tory Island.

The inspector found multiple fire safety hazards during the time period of the inspection outlined in the report.

“Flammable and combustible items were found in a boiler room and an ESB room. Garden machinery, cardboard, and wood were found in the boiler room. A container of oil and grease, along with discarded waste and cardboard boxes, were found in the ESB room,” the report said. “Residents' external smoking area did not contain a call bell or a fire extinguisher.

“In a kitchen, signage was missing from isolator switches to inform staff of

their function in the event of an emergency. An external assembly fire point was partly taken up by parked cars. This reduced the area required for residents to assemble in the event of an external evacuation.”

The inspectors observed an enclosed courtyard area in the centre that did not provide adequate means of escape, including a gate and a break-through door.

Additionally, while the report states most fire doors were in good condition, some of the fire doors were missing fire seals, gaps that would allow smoke and fire to spread between rooms, a bedroom door failing to close fully, doors with leaking hinges and missing screws, and fire doors without identification tags.

The report also states that fire detection and containment standards were not adequate.

“An air vent was found to be fitted above the fire door. This would allow smoke and fire to bypass the fire door. In an external building that consisted of an ESB room, a boiler room and a store room, significant containment breaches were identified and there was a lack of fire separation between these high-risk rooms,” the report said. “Large openings and penetrations through ceilings and walls were noted.”

Furthermore, fire detection systems were missing in an electrical cupboard and a kitchen cupboard, and the centre lacked fire evacuation documents and evidence of fire safety drills at night during the time of the inspection.

The inspection also discovered the centre was non-compliant with governance and management, and the contract for the provision of services. A judgement of non-compliance means that the provider in charge has not complied with a regulation and considerable action is required.

The centre was found to be compliant in staffing, training and staff development, records, notification of incidents, individual assessment and care plan, health care, managing behaviour that is challenging, and residents' rights.

The centre was found to be substantially compliant in premises, temporary absence or discharge of residents, infection control, and protection.

The unannounced inspection took place on June 9 of this year, between the hours of 9 am and 4:30 pm.

In a statement released by Falcarragh Community Hospital, the provider says it will follow a compliance plan to address the issues outlined in the HIQA report.

“An additional 18.5sqm of storage space will be available upon the registration of the Gola wing, and this will address the inappropriate storage identified by the inspectors and affirm regulatory compliance in accordance with Schedule Six of the regulations,” the centre said. “A robust system is now in place so that all MDT recommendations are now received in a documented format.”

“The HSE IPC team completed an audit of the cleaner’s room and the storage facilities in the centre. Face-to-face safeguarding training for all staff has been completed. The Registered Provider actively engages with HR / Recruitment to ensure all vacant posts are progressed and filled in a timely manner. In the interim, agency staff are in place to ensure adequate staffing arrangements.

“The Registered Provider has reviewed and amended the centre’s short stay contract of care. The Registered Provider has reviewed the day-to-day Fire safety precautions and arrangements in the centre, and a robust risk management plan is in place to mitigate the risks identified by the inspectors.”