HIQA says Aras Mhic Shuibhne, Mullinasole residents “enjoy good quality of life”

An unannounced HIQA (Health Inspection and Quality Authority) inspection carried out in June at a designated centre for older people at Aras Mhic Shuibhne, Mullinasole, Laghey, has found that overall, the inspector observed the 48 residents enjoyed a good quality of life in the centre, and the feedback from the residents was positive about the care they received.

HIQA say the provider had also made significant improvements in the quality of care provided to the residents and had implemented most of the compliance plan actions from the previous inspection held in August 2022. 

The most recent inspection was carried out on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.  

However, they add that significant focus is now required to strengthen the provider's management systems and to ensure that the improvements that had been made were sustained in this centre.

The designated centre for older people provides care and support to meet the needs of both male and female older persons and provides twenty-four hour nursing care to residents both long-term (continuing and dementia care) and short-term (assessment, convalescence and respite care) residents.

Of the 17 sections under which it was inspected, 12 were said to be “compliant”. 

These included staffing, training and staff development, Directory of Residents, Records, Insurance, Statement of Purpose, Personal Possessions, Premises, Health Care, Managing behaviour that is challenging, Protection, and Residents rights.

The remaining areas of Governance and Management, Infection control, Fire precautions, Medicines and pharmaceutical services, as well as individual assessment and care plans, were said to be “substantially compliant”.

No areas of the inspection were found to be “non compliant”.

It reported that “there was adequate numbers of staff who had appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the assessed needs of residents and given the layout of the designated centre.

“Staffing resources were kept under review by the management team and there were

processes in place to source additional staff if required,” the report stated.

The centre is a single storey building comprising of 40 single en suite bedrooms and

four twin bedrooms located in a rural area with local amenities close by. 

There is a specialist dementia unit Murvagh Suite accommodating 14 residents in single en suite bedrooms and Warren and Rossnowlagh suites are for the remaining residents.

The aim of the centre is to ensure the maximum possible individual care and

attention for all of the residents living in the home.

Some of the residents' comments were that, ''this is a nice place to live, and staff

are excellent '', ''I like the music sessions'', ''the food is nice here'', ''staff help me at

all times, and they are great''.

The designated centre, consists of a single-storey building that can accommodate 48 residents in a mix of single and twin-bedded rooms. 

The full report can be read here: