Limerick nursing home praised in HIQA report

A LIMERICK city nursing home received a unanimously positive report from the health watchdog following an unannounced three day inspection in August.

From August 26 to August 28, St Paul’s Nursing Home in Dooradoyle was reviewed by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and found to be compliant in all areas.

According to the report, the inspection took place to review the management structure, as two nurses were appointed to management positions since the previous inspection in December 2014.

Overall, the HIQA review showed that the inspectors were pleased with the new management system and the “transparency” in how residents’ finances were arranged.

According to the inspector, there were “sufficient resources to ensure the effective delivery of care”, thanks to the newly-appointed management staff, and that the structure was “clearly defined”.

It added that staff were able to spot lines of “authority and accountability” within the nursing home, and that all confirmed that they had received “good support, mentoring and supervision” from the person in charge.

Recommendations were made in April 2015 in order to improve “completeness, accuracy and transparency” of residents’ finances, following last year’s inspection.

According to the report, these recommendations were implemented in September.

Residents, who previously had social welfare payments collected in cash by the home’s agent, now had payments paid directly into the home’s banking account.

The inspector also reviewed a new electronic filing and invoice system at the home. In relation to safe care and support, “no financial discrepancies were noted”.

The report also stated that there were no actions required after the inspection