Some Kinsale hospital facilities are ‘totally inadequate' – Hiqa

A HIQA report into Kinsale Community Hospital found that some facilities at the hospital were ‘totally inadequate’ to meet residents’ needs.

The report sets out the findings of an announced follow-up inspection, following a previous inspection undertaken on September 29th 2015.

The report said that the centre had a capacity to accommodate 40 residents, yet it can only accommodate 15 residents at meal times and that the provision of dining and sitting space was totally inadequate to meet the needs of the residents.

‘The dining experience for residents also required review in that the majority of residents had their meals by their beds. However, for the residents who did attend the dining room, the tables were not set and residents were served their meals on trays on the dining tables and the trays were not removed to provide a more conducive dining experience,’ said the Hiqa report.

Other issues highlighted by the report said that not all of the four-bedded rooms were suitable in size to meet residents’ needs, and impacted on the privacy and dignity of the residents sharing these rooms. It also pointed out that there was just one communal room on the ground floor for sitting, dining and recreational space for all residents.

‘Although there has been a very high quality renovation of parts of the building, which enables a number of residents to relocate from the first floor to the ground floor, many actions required from the previous inspections relating to the premises were not completely remedied,’ said the Hiqa report.

The report said that ‘although the newly renovated part of the centre was upgraded to a very high standard, there remained significant limitations within the physical environment in the other parts of the centre, which negatively impacted on the freedom, choice, privacy, dignity and autonomy of residents.’

The report also said that improvements were also required in relation to some fire safety practices. 

The report did, however, say that the person in charge and staff team displayed good knowledge of the regulatory requirements and they were found to be committed to providing good care for the residents.