Report reveals shortcomings at Merlin Park’s facility for elderly

Staff shortages, the non-recording of patients’ complaints and inadequate fire precautions are among the concerns highlighted at a Galway hospital following an inspection of a residential unit for elderly people.

The HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) inspection report into Unit 5 and 6 at Merlin Park Hospital found several instances in which the hospital was failing to meet the regulations required of it. The units, which were home to 39 residents, including 16 maximum dependency and eleven high dependency, found that staff shortages were impacting on the residents. It is run by the Health Service Executive.

“Staffing levels at times were not sufficient to meet the needs of all residents,” the report said.

The HSE has taken a number of measures to comply with the regulations and rectify its failings since.

HIQA said: “The inspector observed that staffing levels at times during the inspection were not sufficient to meet the needs of all residents. The inspector found that some residents who required assistance with their meals did not have the required timely level of support. As a result, the inspector noted that some residents were left waiting with their meals in front of them while staff attended to other residents.”

HIQA recommended that the HSE “ensure that the numbers and skill mix of staff are appropriate to the assessed needs of residents, and the size and layout of the designated centre.”

In response, the HSE said the two units carried out an immediate review of the staff roster to address the staffing shortfall, particularly at mealtimes. It said since the inspection, “staff are rostered for a longer shift to assist the residents at mealtimes”.

The Haddington Road agreement, the HSE said, has also improved staffing levels; and the numbers of residents at the units has fallen since the inspection, thereby improving the staff to resident ratio.

The report noted that, “aspects of falls management and behaviour that challenges did not ensure that all residents’ needs were adequately met. The policy on behaviour that challenges had not been implemented. Residents with communication and other sensory difficulties did not have sufficient opportunity for meaningful activities.”

In response the HSE said it had taken a number of steps to address these concerns. “The staffing mix is monitored on a daily basis to maintain the assessed needs of the residents, it said, adding, “a mid afternoon review of the mornings’ activities has been introduced and any relevant issues are noted and care plans updated.”

The HIQA inspection, which was unannounced and took place over two days in May, found that there was “no complaints policy” and the complaints procedure had not been properly displayed.  “All complaints were not being documented and the satisfaction level of the complainant with the outcome of the investigation had not been consistently recorded,” it said.

The HSE said since the inspection it is now maintaining a record of all complaints, detailing the complaint investigation, the outcome of the complaint and whether or not the resident was satisfied. It also reiterated the importance of the complaints’ procedures to staff.

The inspection also noted a threat to health and safety. “The inspector identified a failing in one aspect of fire safety that placed residents at potential risk of harm in the event of a fire. The inspector noted gaps between some fire doors which could impact on their effectiveness. This risk was brought to the attention of the provider,” it said.

The fire hazard has since been rectified, the HSE said.