Connacht Tribune
Nursing unit under fire over staffing levels
Workers at a HSE-operated community nursing home in Clifden complained there were not enough staff to meet the needs of residents during a surprise inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority.
The visit found two ‘major’ issues of non-compliance – staffing levels and privacy and dignity for some residents forced to use commodes.
‘Moderate’ issues were also recorded relating to government and management; health and social care needs and health and safety and risk management.
HIQA inspectors made the unannounced visit to St Anne’s Community Nursing Unit on the Westport Road over two days last October. There were 23 residents there at the time, and one vacancy in the two-storey building.
In a ‘major’ non-compliance recorded on management, inspectors found there were insufficient resources to ensure “the effective delivery of care”.
“The person in charge stated that although she had found deficits in auditing the [patients’] care plans, she did not have sufficient time to enact a quality improvement plan.
“Staff members spoken with stated that they did not have adequate staff to meet the needs of residents, in particular there was a decrease in staffing levels after 6.30pm, when there is one nurse and two care assistants to meet the needs of 17 maximum-dependency residents and seven high-dependency residents,” the report reads.
It adds that the HSE failed to provide “an appropriate comprehensive response” to queries from the inspector.
HIQA also found major non-compliance with effective care and support at the centre – issues relating to the provision of toilets had not been addressed since a previous inspection.
“Residents residing in the five-bedded room do not have access to a toilet/en suite within the environs of their own bedroom space. As a consequence, the use of commodes/continence wear does not promote residents’ independence, privacy or dignity in line with the National Standards.
“In order for a current resident to access a toilet/shower they have to be assisted by hoist out onto the corridor to access a shower/bathroom/toilet. While there is a small toilet in the upper corner of the five-bedded room is only accessible to mobile residents due to its size. To use this facility, you have to pass through the private space of the resident in the corner area of the room.
“At times during the inspection, this area was found to be cramped and unsuitable for the number of people accommodated therein and the activities ongoing. There was little room to use a hoist or sit by a bed. As the wardrobes are located on entry to the room it is difficult for residents to access personal items. It is impossible to personalise your own personal space as there was no space to do this,” the report found.
In its response to a list of requirements set out, the HSE said: “We have plans in place and funding to construct a new 50-bedded unit on the grounds of St Anne’s. This is to replace the local community hospital and St. Anne’s. It will be completed by 2021.”
They added that an electronic care planning system is being introduced, which will allow more efficient use of nurses’ time on the floor, and they are “actively working on” recruiting staff, although it is a “major challenge”.
The HSE is also in the process of recruiting a Director of Nursing for the Clifden area, and hope to have this completed by May 2017.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
