Carndonagh Community Hospital praised for facilitating 'sense of community'

Carndonagh Community Hospital was congratulated for providing “exceptional care” in an inspection report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

The facility, at Convent Road, Carndonagh, was given the status of being compliant with national standards after the unannounced inspection in May 2025.

Carndonagh Community Hospital is a designated centre that has three units, namely Elm Ward, Oak Ward, and Ard Aoibhinn, which is a dementia-specific unit. 

Nikhil Sureshkumar, who inspected the facility, praised the centre for being “well-run” and that “residents were made central to the organisation.”

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“There was a sufficient number of staff on duty to meet the needs of residents in a timely manner,” said Sureshkumar, and that “staff were provided with a suite of training, such as managing responsive behaviours, training in end-of-life care support, and various other training to perform their respective roles effectively.

“Additionally, a few staff had completed training in the principles of human rights and advocacy.”

Sureshkumar further commented that “staff were readily available for assistance in all units and were found to have been often engaged in friendly banter with residents, which facilitated a sense of community.”

Both records of activities maintained in the centre, and the minutes of residents’ meetings were available for Sureshkumar to review, which “indicated that residents were involved in the organisation of this centre,” such as more frequent visits from an ice cream van, and increasing summer gardening activities.

In his overall judgement sanctioning Carndonagh Community Hospital as compliant with national standards, Sureshkumar said: “Residents enjoyed a good quality of life where the culture, ethos, and delivery of care were focused on reducing or eliminating the use of restrictive practices.”