HIQA details troubling fire precaution concerns at Dunfanaghy nursing home

A Dunfanaghy nursing home has been criticised by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) for not improving fire safety precautions within the designated centre.

Lake House Nursing Home, run by Sheephaven Properties Ltd, in Portnablagh, Dunfanaghy, was deemed not compliant in a November 2024 HIQA report with fire precautions, and was also deemed not compliant with fire precautions after an unannounced inspection in April.

The designated centre, capable of accommodating over 40 people who need care, including those with dementia, was criticised for several examples of fire safety hazards witnessed during the inspection by HIQA inspector Gordon Ellis. 

Due to being deemed not compliant in the category of fire precaution, Mr Ellis also deemed Lake House Nursing Home not compliant in Governance and Management.

The inspector found evidence of inadequate sealing up of service penetrations through fire resisting construction, the unprotected means of escape through a store room, the ineffective procedure relating to the evacuation of residents in the event of a fire, and inappropriate storage practices that impacted on fire safety.

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Examples of fire risks found included “inappropriate storage practices in relation to flammable and combustible items were found in two boiler rooms, cardboard boxes were being stored, and a lawnmower was found in one of the boiler rooms.

“In a resident’s courtyard, a container of fuel was found adjacent to a generator.  

“During upgrading works to a drug store room, a glove was found to have been fitted over a fire detector, which interfered with the sensor to detect smoke.”

The inspector criticised “the means of escape for residents and emergency lighting in the event of an emergency in the centre,” describing it as “not adequate.”

For example, “timber panelling was found to be fitted to a ceiling area of the front sun lounge. As this was located on a means of escape, assurances could not be provided that the fire rating of the timber would meet the required fire resistance.”

Mr Ellis said that “commitments identified on the previous inspection had not been fulfilled,” and that “fire drill records and evacuation procedures did not provide assurances that there was adequate supervision of the remaining residents in the centre during an evacuation, to meet the fire brigade, to supervise residents in other areas of the centre and at the assembly area.”

In response, the care provider said, amongst other things: “A complete Fire Risk Assessment has been booked to be carried out at Lake House Nursing Home by a Fire engineer on the 10th of July 2025. 

“From the findings of this risk assessment, management will work to ensure all fire risks are addressed. 

“This newly employed fire engineer will carry out a risk assessment, ongoing from now on, as required.

“Fire precautions and fire audits will continue to be discussed and reviewed at management meetings.”