HIQA says its closely monitoring centres in the North West after its latest reports confirm there are still serious concerns about a number of facilities in the region.
Ten of thirteen HIQA reports published earlier this week relate to centres for people with diabilities in this region – three of these had particularly poor results.
HIQA’s latest round of reports were carried out in the last quarter of 2016.
They are to ensure that centres for people with disabilities are keeping in line with 2007 legislation to ensure the proper care and support of residents – both children and adults.
It was the seventh inspection for Rosses View in Sligo but HIQA found that fire safety risks had still not been addressed at the site.
It also found that 19 staff members did not have the required Garda vetting and that daily activities were not available as requested by residents due to staff shortages and transport issues.
There was however positive feedback on staff from residents.
Railway View and Finnside in Donegal was found to be majorly non-compliant in a number of areas including safeguarding.
The report notes that three residents had falls and adequate preventative measures had not been put in place.
Improvements were also ‘urgently’ needed to improve fire prevention at the centre.
Health and safety and medication management were also found to be issues at the Upper Woodlands Close unit in Sligo.
While all of these reports also outline positive aspects of care by staff and on the work being done there, the overall conclusion by HIQA is that there is a high-level of concern at centres in the North West.
It states that as a result, the chief inspector met with the national management team of the HSE at the end of 2016 to raise concerns about the overall governance and quality of services in the North West area.
The HSE was required to submit an improvement plan for these services, and HIQA is closely monitoring the implementation of this plan to ensure that it is effective in improving the quality of life of people living in those centres.
