HIQA finds ongoing fire safety breaches at Donegal Community Hospital

An unannounced inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) found ongoing fire safety breaches at Donegal Community Hospital. 

The inspection at the HSE-owned facility took place on July 20, 2023  and was published in recent days.

Donegal Community Hospital is situated on the outskirts of Donegal Town. The 29 bed facility has a mix of single, twin, and multi occupancy rooms. There are shared sitting and dining rooms, an oratory, and a treatment room, as well as an onsite kitchen and laundry.

Donegal Community Hospital provides palliative care, respite care, convalescence, rehabilitation and continuing care. 

Patient Care

There were 24 residents present on the day of the inspection, some in rooms and others in communal areas.

With regard to patient care, it was noted that staff were being very attentive and respectful to residents, and were encouraging residents to participate in viewing Ireland’s women’s world cup game.

Fire Safety

At a previous inspection which took place in March 2023 a number of fire risks were identified and a compliance plan was put in place. 

According to HIQA: “On this current inspection, while some of the commitments made by the provider to come into compliance with these regulations were carried out, outstanding actions still existed. 

“Additionally, a repeated finding in regard to the storing of oxygen cylinders. 

“Furthermore, on this inspection, the oversight of fire safety management systems and the processes to identify, and manage fire safety risks were ineffective to ensure the safety of residents living in the centre.”

The inspector had been informed by the person in charge that a fire safety risk assessment had been carried out by the provider in April 2023. But this had not been made available to the person in charge at Donegal Community Hospital. 

Identified Risks

According to the report: “The inspector observed a number of fire risks that required

immediate action to be taken to address the immediate risks. 

“The inspector observed the inappropriate storage of flammable and combustible

items stored in various locations,” the report stated. 

“In an ESB room, the inspector observed shoes, coats, luggage bags and furniture and a plastic glove had been placed over a fire detector.

“A fire door into a linen room was tied in such a way as to keep the door open and a fire door into a cleaners’ store was found to be wedged open. “

The inspector found that there were sufficient escape routes and exits from the building. External routes were mostly kept clear and provided escape away from the building, though  large bins were being stored on an external means of escape and directly up against an external wall with a series of windows.

One final fire exit door used in the event of a fire evacuation was through a smoking area for residents and the fire exit door opened into the internal side of the centre instead of in the direction of escape.

“ In addition to this, there was a lack of emergency exit signage in some internal corridors to indicate the route to access a fire exit in both directions,” the report continued.

“Furthermore, some corridors were observed to be cluttered with trolleys and bed mattresses were being stored in these areas.

“The inspector saw a number of areas where utility services penetrated fire rated walls and ceilings; these required sealing up.” 

Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of the evacuation procedure in place. The fire alarm panel was located in the main reception and at the nurses’ station, both of which were noted to be free of faults. Fire extinguishers were present throughout the centre and were serviced.

Full details can be found in the report

Long Stay Patients

According to HIQA, at the centre's last registration in 2021, the Chief Inspector applied a restrictive condition to the provider's certificate of registration. It stated that no further long-term residents could be admitted to the centre. 

As such, the centre is currently registered for short-term placements up to a maximum of 60 days. 

The inspector found that five residents accommodated in short-stay beds had been accommodated for more than 60 days. 

Compliance Plan

A renewed plan was agreed with the provider to bring the facility up to an acceptable standard of safety and compliance.