Ballyshannon care facility 'substantially compliant' according to HIQA Report

The inspections were carried out between February 2024 and August 2024. The Chief Inspector of Social Services has statutory responsibility for independently regulating designated centres for older people for compliance with the Health Act (2007) Regulations and the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland(2016), to ensure that the people living in these services are safe and well cared for.

Of the 50 reports published, inspectors found evidence of good practice and compliance with the regulations and standards in a number of inspections. 

The Ballyshannon Community Hospital was one of the centres subject to inspection and was given an overall judgement of being 'substantially compliant'.

The hospital can accommodate sixty residents and can provide a Multi Disciplinary approach to the care of residents through a variety of care pathways.

These care pathways include meeting the needs of residents who need long term care with varying conditions, abilities and disabilities. Such conditions and disabilities include residents with dementia and cognitive impairment; residents with physical, neurological and sensory impairments; residents with mental health needs and palliative care.

A further 18 centres were either fully compliant or substantially compliant with the regulations. In general, these centres were found to be meeting residents’ needs and delivering care in line with the national standards and regulations.

Levels of non-compliance varied in the remaining inspection reports, with 19 centres non-compliant with three regulations or less, and 10 centres non-compliant with four or more regulations. On these inspections, non-compliance was identified in areas including: governance and management, notification of incidents, infection control, individual assessment and care plan, residents' rights, fire precautions, and premises.

Where non-compliance with the regulations was identified, providers were required to submit compliance plans to demonstrate how they will make improvements and come into compliance with the regulations.

Overall, the residents of Ballyshannon are enjoying a good quality of life, and the feedback from residents was that they were very happy living in this new designated centre.

Residents told the inspector that staff were "exceptionally kind and committed to their care."

Some residents' comments were that: '' I love the balcony area and the fresh air.''

Another resident said: ''Staff are exceptional, they bring me to the garden whenever the weather is good."

This newly-built designated centre was constructed by extending and refurbishing the old Sheil Hospital and is located just outside Ballyshannon town.

The centre reportedly has sufficient parking spaces for residents and visitors at the front of the building including disabled access spaces. Additionally, the centre is close to local amenities such as shops, banks, and a post office which can be accessed via a safe pedestrian pathway from the centre into the town.

Upon arrival, the inspector met with the individual in charge and went for a walk around the centre. The inspector noted that there was sufficient seating for the residents to sit together in small groups or to sit and chat with their visitors.

The community hospital received fourteen judgments of full compliance with one judgment of non-compliant for "notification of incidents" and substantially compliant at infection control.