HIQA issues largely positive report on Dungloe Community Hospital

A Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspection at Dungloe Community Hospital found that residents felt happy and well looked after.

A report was released on Wednesday, May 29 relating to an announced inspection which took place on February 27. The HSE-owned facility was found to be Compliant or Substantially Compliant with most regulations. A finding of Not Compliant was noted in terms of Premises, with the issues relating largely to layout of some of the bedrooms. 

The centre is part of a larger building where a range of community services that include a day hospital, mental health services and out-patient clinics are located. 

Accommodation is provided for 34 residents. There are 17 places allocated for long-term care and the remaining places are allocated to residents who have rehabilitation, convalescence, respite or palliative care needs. 

There were 32 residents in the facility when the inspection was carried out.

According to HIQA: “Overall, the residents were well-supported in receiving person-centred care based on their needs and abilities and were supported to be active participants in the running of the centre. 

“The inspector spoke with several residents during this inspection, and their feedback was highly positive about the care and service they receive in this centre. 

“Some of the residents' comments were that ‘this is an excellent place’, ‘I am getting a five star treatment here’, ‘the food is excellent and I get plenty of food’, ‘the staff are kind and they will do whatever I ask’, ‘'they are a great team’ and ‘I love the live music sessions’.”

The inspector noted that there was an enclosed outdoor garden that residents could enjoy, and two day-rooms that were laid out in a way that provided ‘a safe and homely communal space’.

“The atmosphere in the designated centre was relaxed and welcoming,” the inspector reported. 

Recently refurbished, the centre was found to be clean and well maintained. The corridors leading to the residents' accommodated areas were free of obstacles with handrails available on both sides to support residents' independent movement.

Equipment storage had significantly improved since previous inspections, thus facilitating residents' mobility needs.

The inspector went to some of the residents' bedrooms and found that some rooms were personalised with their own items of significance. 

However, the inspector found that some rooms were not suitably laid out to meet the residents' needs. This related mainly to insufficient space for use of assistive safety equipment without encroaching on the next bed, and the reduction of circulation space caused by large equipment such as specialist chairs. 

This led to the inspector’s only finding of Not Compliant, under the Premises regulations.

Dungloe Community Hospital was found to by Compliant in regulations on: Staffing, Training and Staff Development, Records,Insurance, Notification of Incidents, Communication Difficulties, Visits,  Food and Nutrition, Individual Assessment and Care Plan, Health Care , Protection, and Residents' Rights

It was deemed Substantially Compliant in terms of Governance and Management, Complaints Procedure, and Managing Behaviour That is Challenging.

HSE Response
The HSE says it has forwarded a proposal by the Estates department to HIQA to address the issues regarding space around the beds to enable the residents accommodated in these rooms to mobilise safely and access their wardrobes or to use the assistive equipment safely without encroaching on to the next bed space.

The bed adjacent to the en-suite in the three-bedroom rooms will only be used for mobile short-stay residents.

After consulting with the residents, small shelves have been installed on the wall appropriately to display their photographs and valuables in all the bedrooms.

Melissa Kelly, Acting General Manager for Older Persons Services HSE CH CDLMS said: “The HSE will continue to work to ensure the delivery of high quality, person centered services to the residents in Dungloe Community Hospital.”